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.
Does the Moon look orange tonight? No, you're not seeing things! This is what causes it
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
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.
Better than beginner telescopes? We couldn't believe how good these low-budget binoculars are for stargazing
Sturdy budget-friendly binos that outperform beginner telescopes
These Apollo-inspired eyepieces come at a hefty price, but the views are like being in lunar orbit
These premium optics were inspired by Apollo – and deliver a giant leap to your views
This Sky-Watcher is one of the best beginner telescopes we've reviewed. And it even comes with its own app
A smartphone-controlled, beginner-friendly reflector boasting excellent views.
Celestron's powerful smart telescope has an upgrade. We got the chance to try out the brand new Mark II
A pricey but powerful smart scope that brings deep-sky targets alive instantly
A budget-friendly beginner telescope for photographing the night sky? We couldn't wait to try it out
Well-built and capable, this beginner scope punches well above its bargain price
Sky-Watcher's new budget telescope is a precision instrument for beginners. We got the chance to try it out
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
In pictures – last night's Venus and crescent Moon meeting stuns in images captured around the world
Images of the conjunction of bright planet Venus and the crescent Moon captured on 17 June 2026 by photographers around the world
These are the best images of comet 3I/ATLAS captured so far
Images of the interstellar visitor
Venus and Jupiter's beautiful close encounter captured by photographers from around the world
Images of the Venus–Jupiter close conjunction in June 2026, which culminated in the closest approach on 9 June.
Gallery | Uranus
A guide to the icy ringed giant
In pictures – the stunning Blue Moon 2026 captured by photographers from around the world
Pictures of the 31st May 2026 full Moon – known as a Blue Moon – captured by photographers from across the globe
How to photograph the Moon with a smartphone
Tips and tricks to help you succeed in lunar astrophotography using a smartphone.
Astrophotography galleries
Gallery | Planes in front of the Sun and Moon
A gallery of images of planes passing in front of the solar or lunar disc.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft's best images of Saturn and its moons
The NASA Cassini mission captured beautiful images of Saturn, its rings and its moons.
Lunar eclipses explained
What is a lunar eclipse and why do they happen? Discover the science of lunar eclipses and view amazing pictures of the rusty-red 'blood Moon'.
Gallery | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?
Gallery | Crescent Moon
A crescent Moon is a spectacular sight. Here are some of the top features to see on a waxing and waning crescent.
Eye On The Sky | 6 beautiful galaxy collisions seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
The study of galaxy collisions using the Hubble Space Telescope is revealing the secrets of star formation and galactic evolution.
Spaceflight
Humans will evolve differently on Mars. This is how science says our bodies will transform on the Red Planet
Scott Solomon is an evolutionary biologist. We spoke to him about what our descendants in future settlements on the Red Planet might look like
The Moon is a death trap: These are the life-threatening dangers awaiting astronauts on the lunar surface
If we’re ever going to build a base on the Moon, we’ll need to be able to manage a range of threats to human life
Artemis II is already changing what we know about the Moon. I'm a geologist – this is how the mission science is unlocking key lunar secrets
What Artemis II’s mission to the Moon could reveal about our lunar companion
NASA has announced the Artemis III crew. Here's what we know about the next stage in America's return to the Moon
Meet the crew of Artemis III
US space firm Blue Origin just extracted oxygen from Moon dust. Here's why it could transform spaceflight
Blue Origin's Air Pioneer device can extract oxygen from Moon dust – a development with the potential to revolutionise crewed spaceflight
Clear skies on Mars – NASA rover captures one of the sharpest panoramas of the Red Planet ever taken
Region could be some of oldest terrain the rover has ever explored
This is the radical new rocket tech that will put the whole Solar System within humanity's reach
A hundred years on since the first liquid-fuelled rocket, more advanced propulsion systems are on the drawing board to take us further into space than we’ve ever been
Blue Origin rocket explodes during test
On 28 May 2026, a New Glenn rocket built by Blue Origin exploded on its launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA
DIY Astronomy
Dirty binoculars? Simple hacks to clean them and get them back to giving you tip-top views
There’s more to keeping delicate optical devices clean than spit and polish. Find out how to keep your binoculars clean with our DIY guide.
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?
Make a Moon phase calculator and calendar
Make a mechanical instrument that calculates and displays the phase of the Moon for any chosen day of the year.
