Advice

A DSLR can easily capture the elliptical smudge of M31, as well as satellite galaxies M32 and M110. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophotography guides

How to photograph the Andromeda galaxy with a DSLR camera

M16. Credit: Gerald Rhemann.

Star clusters: an astronomer’s guide

An image of the Sun that looks strikingly like a Halloween jack o lantern. This image was captured by NASA's SDO probe. Credit: NASA/SDO

Halloween Astronomy How to plan a spooky stargazing session

The Watcher Nicolai Brügger, Lofoten, Norway, 9 March 2018. Category: Aurorae. Equipment: Nikon D600 camera, 15mm f/2.8 lens.

Astrophotography guides

Image processing How to create an aurora panorama

The Triangulum Galaxy, as seen by the Very Large Telescope. Credit: ESO

How to observe our neighbouring galaxies

The Orionid meteor shower 2020 radiant is near Betelgeuse and the shower’s peak is on 20/21 October. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Orionids 2020 How to see this year's meteor shower

To locate Pluto you’ll need to record stars down to mag. +15.0 (see inset). Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to spot Jupiter, Saturn and Pluto in the night sky

Join BBC Sky at Night Magazine for an online lecture looking at Mars opposition 2020

Mars Opposition 2020 Join our online lecture, 7 October 2020

How to the see planets in October 2020. Mars lies in Pisces throughout the opposition period. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see the planets in the night sky, October 2020

A full Moon that looks blue. Credit: PhotoAlto/Frederic Cirou/GettyImages

What’s in a blue Moon?

Thanks to lunar libration we can observe slightly more than half of the Moon’s surface. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Lunar libration: what it is and how to photograph it

Clair obscur effects on the Moon. Upper row, left to right: Lunar X, Lunar V, Plato’s Hook. Lower row, left to right: Face in Albategnius, the Jewelled Handle, Cassini’s Moon Maiden (south-up view). Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide 7 clair-obscur effects to observe on the Moon

Kemble's Cascade asterism in Camelopardalis. Credit: Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images

An astronomer’s tour of autumn and winter targets

Clavius is a wonderfully rugged moon crater, ripe for observing with a telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence

How to see crater Clavius on the Moon

Have you come to astronomy new during lockdown? You'll need help choosing your first telescope. Credit: Mark Garlick / Science Photo Library

Astronomy in a pandemic: choosing your first telescope