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
We're about to get a new star in the night sky. Here's how to photograph the Blaze Star when it erupts
How to photograph the constellation Corona Borealis and capture the Blaze Star when it erupts and produces a new star in the sky
Venus and Jupiter are closing in one each other. Here's how to capture spectacular images of their close encounter
Top tips for photographing Venus and Jupiter in May and June 2026, including the close conjunction on 9 June 2026
This image just won the public vote in the biggest astrophotography competition on the planet
The winning images from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year People's Choice Award 2025, as voted by members of the public
The Sun like you’ve never seen it before - astounding pictures and 4K timelapse videos of our nearest star
Miguel Claro’s solar images capture a side of the Sun that can’t be seen by human eyes alone. These seven images show the power, beauty and dynamism of our nearest star
You can create glowing art by using free NASA images of the Sun. Here's how to do it
Transform real NASA images of the Sun into glowing art
Red Flower Moon looms on the horizon over Sicily. Beautiful image captured this morning hints at the full Moon spectacle this weekend
An image of the morning Flower Moon 2026 above the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata in Sicily, just as dawn is breaking.
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
Think spaceflight is pointless? It might already have saved your life. Four ways space tech transformed healthcare on Earth
Discover the unexpected medical breakthroughs born from our quest to explore the cosmos
Two spacecraft photographed comet 3I/ATLAS at the same time as it flew by the Sun. Here's what they found
Comet 3I/ATLAS was imaged and studied simultaneously by the Juice and Europa Clipper spacecraft as it flew past the Sun
NASA has revealed what the Artemis III mission will look like – and says crew could be announced soon
NASA announces the preliminary outline of the Artemis III mission, including more time spent in space, docking practice and new heat shield
Strange, dark material spotted in an ancient channel on Mars, where water once flowed 3.5 billion years ago
Shalbatana Vallis, near Mars’s equator, is 800 miles long
A large section of a Space X rocket is about to smash into the Moon. Here's what we know so far
A Falcon 9 upper stage is due to hit the Moon on 5 August 2026 and will be travelling 5,400 miles an hour when it hits
Help! This NASA rover just got a large Martian rock stuck to the end of its arm
NASA's Curiosity rover got the drill on one of its arms stuck on a large rock on Mars, warranting attempts to knock the rock free
NASA rover captures weird 'spiderwebs' on Mars, giving scientists fresh hope of finding ancient life on the Red Planet
The water needed for sustaining life could have lasted much longer on Mars than thought
NASA is flying helicopters on distant moons and planets. Welcome to a new era of Solar System exploration
Katrin Raynor reveals how Ingenuity’s triumph on Mars opened up a bold new era of flight on other worlds
DIY Astronomy
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.
How to build a rolling telescope dolly
Complete our astronomy DIY project to wheel your telescope setup in and out of storage without delay.
