Astronomy Photographer of the Year | 2025 shortlist
Eureka! We thought we knew how the Universe works, but these radical ideas changed everything
Astrophysicist Ersilia Vaudo explores five key moments in astronomy and space science that forever changed what we know about the cosmos
Group of photographers capture stunning image of distant galaxy with a black hole at its heart
An interstellar comet from deep space has entered our Solar System
If Pluto has a liquid ocean, it's one of the best places to search for life beyond Earth
ESA Proba-3 mission first images
Finally! Webb has discovered water ice around a nearby star just like our own Solar System
Oxygen on Earth is running out. Here’s what that means for us
Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere is not a permanent feature, and its loss will mark the end of complex life on our planet," says Kazumi Ozaki, Assistant Professor at Toho University
Venus is more like Earth than we thought. Archive NASA data allows scientists to peer beneath the surface
"A new worst case scenario." Biggest solar storm ever recorded hit our planet in 12,350 BC at the end of the Ice Age
BBC Sky at Night Magazine virtual events
The Art of Solar Imaging
Our expert talks will show you how to work with the Sun’s intense light in safety and capture the effects of solar maximum
Masterclass: Aurora
The science of the aurora, how to plan and predict the aurora and capture a display using smartphones and DSLR cameras
Masterclass: Sunspots
What sunspots are, what kit you can get on a budget to safely observe and image their movement across the Sun
Masterclass: Sun's interior
The kit needed to photograph the Sun's dynamic features and how to process your solar images to make them even better
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.
10 of the best wi-fi and smartphone telescopes in 2025
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.
A large, portable astronomy tent for your telescope? We just had to try this out for ourselves
Altair 678c colour USB3 astronomy camera
A fast-frame-rate, high-sensitivity option for imaging the Moon and planets,
Most portable smart telescope yet? We put the ZWO Seestar S30 to the test to see how it performs
Sure to tempt beginners, the S50’s tiny sibling is affordable, super-simple and great fun
Portable, accurate, impressively fast. We tested the Sky-Watcher Wave 100i mount and tripod
"We knew we were going to miss it." Testing the StellarMate Pro 128GB astrophotography controller
Acuter Voyager MAK80-Fast
Podcasts
Radio Astronomy Podcast | Detecting spacetime ripples of black holes
Astronomers have detected evidence of gravitational waves from supermassive black holes at the centres of merging galaxies.
Podcast: The search for Earth 2.0
Astronomer Chris Impey discusses the search for habitable worlds beyond our Solar System.
Podcast | Lance Bass
We speak with Lance Bass - former member of boyband N'Sync - about his experience training as a cosmonaut and his new podcast The Last Soviet.
Astrophotography
Smart telescope users join forces to photograph the interstellar comet moving through our Solar System
In time for the Buck Moon, the UK's Royal Observatory releases some of the best full Moon images this year
Photograph the Buck Moon rising and you'll be able to debunk an illusion as old as the Moon itself
Fix light pollution in astrophotos by controlling gradients
Vera C Rubin Observatory is online | First images from the world’s largest digital camera
First images from the world’s largest digital camera, housed in the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, give a taste of what to expect from its upcoming 10-year survey of the night sky.
28 Years Later features UK astrophotographer's dazzling shot of the Milky Way
Astrophotography galleries
Hubble | 11 images that revolutionised our view of the cosmos
A look at some of the galaxies, black holes and light-warping gravity observed by Hubble since its launch.
Facts about Mars
Mars is one of the most explored bodies of our Solar System. Our spacecraft and rovers are revealing its secrets bit by bit, including whether it could have hosted life…
Beehive Cluster
Facts about and images of M44, also known as the Beehive Cluster.
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.
Gallery | Jupiter
Facts about Jupiter and images of the gas giant captured by amateur astrophotographers.
Gallery | Saturn
Beautiful pictures of the ringed planet Saturn and facts about the gas giant, the second biggest planet in our Solar System.
Spaceflight
James Webb Space Telescope | See the latest images
See the latest full colour images to be released by the JWST.
How many people have died in space?
How astronauts keep clean and wash in space
I don't think humans should go to Mars. Here's why
Debunked! Critics say glass of water proves China faked space station video. Science says otherwise
The history of the Soyuz rocket
Iain Todd explores the history of the Soyuz: one of space engineering’s greatest achievements.
What the ESA Gaia mission discovered
[Strap] The Gaia telescope has spent the more than a decade surveying our home Galaxy to the highest precision yet. Its career will lead to new discoveries about the Milky Way and its neighbours for years to come.
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory calls staff back into the office
DIY Astronomy
How to stop dew forming on your telescope
Why dew forms on your telescope's optics, and how you can stop it from fogging up your observing.
How to make a solar projection screen for safe observing the Sun or solar eclipse
Safely record features moving across the face of the Sun with this simple device.
Crafty science project: make a model showing what causes a solar eclipse or lunar eclipse
Follow our DIY guide and make a simple model demonstrating how a solar and lunar eclipse works for a fun children's school science project.