China's Chang'e 6 probe enters orbit around the Moon, on its journey to gather samples from the far side
China is set to return the first-ever rocks from the Moon’s far side. This is what the mission has in store.
100 best stargazing astronomy sights
Our pick of the best things to see in the night sky.
9 mind-blowing facts about the Universe
The Universe is a mind-boggling place. Here are 9 of the most astounding space discoveries of recent times.
The T Coronae Borealis 'new star' nova - visible soon - may have been seen by a 13th century German abbott
Have you seen Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) yet? We've been keeping an eye on it...
Could Comet A3 become another Great Comet, or even simply reach naked-eye brightness? We'll find out in autumn 2024...
Can a black hole die?
We can predict the fate of black holes by understanding a process called Hawking Radiation.
Astronomy explained | What is a nebula?
Majestic and mysterious, nebulae are some of the most beautiful deep-sky objects to be found in the night’s sky. But what are these space clouds? And how are they created?
What is the temperature of space?
A guide to cosmic thermodynamics and the extreme temperatures of the Universe.
Go-To telescope mounts for beginners
What Go-To mounts are, how to set them up, pros and cons and how to use them to observe the night sky.
How big is the Universe?
How big is the Universe, and does it have a shape? Or is it merely infinite?
BBC Sky at Night Magazine virtual events
Imaging the Planets Masterclass Series
Our spring 2024 series lifts the lid on photographing the planets, with three of the best planetary imagers in the game.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
Masterclass: The planets in their prime
Join our Masterclass with Pete Lawrence, expert astro imager and presenter on BBC Four’s The Sky at Night at 7pm on 25 April 2024.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
Masterclass: Capturing Jupiter on camera
Join our online spring Masterclass with Damian Peach, world-renowned astrophotographer and lecturer at 7pm on 23 May 2024.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
Masterclass: 10 ways to improve your imaging
Join our online spring Masterclass with award-winning planetary imager Martin Lewis at 7pm on 13 June 2024.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
New to astronomy?
Our simple guides will help you make the most of your time under the stars
14 things new stargazers should know
New to astronomy? Here are some things you'll notice in the night sky as you spend your first year stargazing.
How to become a better astronomer
You've spent many hours observing the night sky. So how can you improve and be more productive at the telescope eyepiece?
How to stargaze from a city
Light pollution from towns and cities makes viewing the night sky a tricky business. But there are things you can do to help.
How to star-hop the night sky
Stuck trying to find stars? Star-hopping is a tried and tested technique that will help you to navigate the sky.
Astronomy advice
Answers to some of the most commonly-asked cosmic questions
Why did it take so long for astronomers to discover Uranus?
Why was Uranus not known to ancient astronomers?
How many stars can a person see in the night sky?
When we look up at the night sky, how many stars can we see, and what magnitude can the human eye see unaided?
What came before the Big Bang? These are the best theories we have about the origin of the cosmos
We explore the theories about one of the most mind-boggling questions about the Universe.
Why the Moon sometimes looks orange
What causes the Moon to appear a red, rusty colour?
Buyers' guides
Our pick of the best astronomy equipment
Best telescope mounts
On the hunt for a new telescope mount, or picking one to go with your first telescope? Read our guide to the best mounts, both budget models and high-end.
Best binoculars for astronomy
Binoculars are a great way of getting into astronomy and stargazing.
Buyer's guide | Best astro imaging cameras
Which cameras are best for astrophotography and what type should you buy? We'll guide you through the different types and the best cameras on the market.
Best beginners' telescopes
Looking to buy your first telescope but don't know where to start? We've picked out some of the best beginner telescopes on the market.
8 of the best wi-fi and smartphone telescopes
Our pick of the best telescopes operated via a smartphone or tablet.
Best telescopes for kids
Buying a telescope for children can be a tricky task. We've tested some of the best telescopes for kids and young people getting started in astronomy.
Astronomy equipment reviews
The latest telescopes, cameras, binoculars, mounts and accessories tried and tested.
Want to get into deep-sky imaging? The RVO Horizon 80 ED refractor is a great introduction, and easily portable
A solid, sensible choice if you’re stepping up to deep-sky imaging.
Crisp views, excellent colour. The Hawke Endurance ED 10x50 binoculars are ideal for astronomy and stargazing
With crisp views and excellent colour fidelity, these binoculars are ideal for stargazing
Heavy duty! The sturdy Sky-Watcher CQ350 Pro mount and tripod offer a staggering 35kg load capacity
This heavy-duty combo makes smooth work of moving big payloads
Askar V apo modular telescope kit review
A refined refractor with swapable lenses that offers remarkable flexibility
The Seestar S50 is among the cheapest smart telescopes available. But is it any good? We put it to the test
ZWO Seestar 50 smart telescope is an enjoyable budget all-in-one. But does it truly deliver on its do-it-all promises?
Bresser ISA Space Exploration NASA 70/700 AZ telescope
Does this affordable, beginners' refractor really cut the mustard?
Podcasts
Star Diary | 24 to 30 July, 2023
Keep an eye out for the three innermost planets Mercury, Venus and Mars just after sunset in this week’s stargazing guide.
Star Diary | 17 to 23 July, 2023
Venus's changing phases and Pluto at opposition are the highlights of this week's stargazing guide.
Star Diary | 10 to 16 July, 2023
The Pleiades return to the morning sky, while the Moon pairs up with Jupiter in this week’s stargazing guide.
Astrophotography
The Sun's activity is increasing. Record the path to solar maximum with our guide on how to photograph sunspots
Showcase solar prominences by producing an inside-out image of the Sun
Gallery | Leo Triplet
The three galaxies that make up the Leo Triplet, M66, M65 and NGC 3628, are engaged in a gravitational tug of war, making this a fascinating deep-sky spectacle.
Sirius, brightest star in the sky, flashes green and twinkles as it sets in smartphone video
Astrophotographer captures Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks, Jupiter and Uranus during the April eclipse
The comet and two planets captured while shooting the April 8 eclipse.
Astronaut photographs northern Europe at night from the Space Station, capturing a 'cosmic web' of light pollution
Image captures the light pollution of major cities like London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Astrophotography galleries
Gallery | Heart and Soul Nebulae
Images of the Heart and Soul Nebulae and facts about these two star-forming regions in Cassiopeia.
Eye On The Sky | Chandra X-ray images reveal the beauty of the cosmos
A set of newly-released images show incredible astronomical phenomena in light invisible to the naked eye.
Gallery | Full Moon
Some will tell you a full Moon is the worst time to observe our lunar neighbour, but there's still plenty to see when the Moon is fully illuminated.
Gallery | Bode's Galaxy and Cigar Galaxy
Images of M81 and M82, the pair of interacting galaxies known as Bode's Galaxy and the Cigar Galaxy, including facts and the history of their discovery.
Gallery | Sunflower Galaxy
Facts about and images of M63, also known as the Sunflower Galaxy.
Gallery | Solar eclipses
What is a solar eclipse and how do you view one safely? Find out about the celestial mechanics behind these spectacular astronomical events.
Spaceflight
NASA Curiosity rover's incredible image showing rays of sunlight passing through a bank of clouds on Mars
The Martian rover has sent back an image of crepuscular rays shining through a bank of clouds on the Red Planet.
Proba-3 will be a 144-metre Sun scope in space, tasked with creating artificial eclipses. This is how we're doing it.
How do you build a 144-metre Sun-scope in space? Following. Marie Beeckman reveals how PROBA-3 will work.
New York, Philadelphia, Boston... Saturn. Astronaut captures lights of northeastern USA from Space Station
Image from space shows lights of NYC, Washington, Philadelphia and Boston, curvature of Earth and the planet Saturn.
Trains, planes, automobiles, a NASA space probe hurtling towards the Sun... These are the fastest objects ever built
A 'wall of death' on the Moon could help future astronauts prevent muscle and bone deterioration
Could the classic circus stunt be the answer to helping lunar settlers exercise?
How does China communicate with Chang'e 6 on the far side of the Moon? With a satellite constellation.
How do you communicate with a spacecraft when the Moon is in the way?
Spacecraft powered by light sails and lasers offer a quicker way to explore the Solar System. But there's a catch.
How scientists on Earth fixed the Voyager 1 spacecraft in the outer reaches of the Solar System
DIY Astronomy
Don't fog up! How to remove moisture from your astrophotography camera sealed sensor
How to recharge the sealed sensor chamber inside your astro camera.
The best, safest ways to view a solar eclipse, from low-cost, simple options to expert astronomer techniques
What are the best and safest ways to view an eclipse?
Build a solar funnel to safely observe the Sun or solar eclipse through your telescope
This easy-to-make device lets you view the Sun or solar eclipse in safety.