Advice

Make the most of Mars at opposition in 2020. Find out how to see Mars tonight. Credit:Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see Mars in the night sky

Star Bellatrix in Orion

A guide to star Bellatrix

Vega by Jamie Bowring, Devon, UK. Equipment: SW 150p, Canon 30D

A guide to star Vega

star altair

A guide to star Altair

Vega and the surrounding stars through a telescope. Taken with a guided setup, the vista appears sharp, with stars like pins. Credit: Ade Ashford.

A guide to telescope autoguiders

Home Planetariums

Buyer's guide Star projectors and home planetariums

Celestron Omni XLT AZ 102 Refractor/basic mount

Best beginners' telescopes

How to navigate the sky using the celestial sphere. Credit: mikroman6 / Getty Images

How to navigate the night sky like an astronomer

From the centre of the UK, Porrima is occulted at 05:52 UT on 19 March as the sky is brightening due to the approach of dawn. Credit: Pete Lawrence

See a lunar occultation of Porrima, 13 May 2022

nightwalking stargazing

The joy of nightwalking under the stars

how to sketch astronomical deep sky object

How to sketch an astronomical deep-sky object

How-to-use-planisphere HEADER

How to use a planisphere

The Milky Way and an Eta Aquariid meteor, Park City, Utah, USA. Credit: Nam Do / 500px / Getty Images

Eta Aquariids 2022 See this year's meteor shower

Lunar Eclipse (10/12/2011) by Tim Jukes, Tsukuba, Japan.

Astrophotography guides

How to create a video animation of a lunar eclipse

There are many smartphone astronomy apps available to help you navigate the night sky, including many that are free.

14 of the best astronomy and stargazing apps for smartphones