Skills
Expert advice on a range of practical astronomy techniques, from setting up your telescope to combatting light pollution.
The easiest and best constellations to see in the winter night sky
Our pick of the best winter constellations in the northern hemisphere, and what deep-sky objects can be found if you look a little closer.
There's one more major meteor shower before the year is out! How to see Ursid meteors this week
The Ursid meteor shower makes for a great excuse to get the family looking up at the night sky over the Christmas period. Our guide will show you how.
Geminids 2024 | How to see this year's meteor shower
Find out when is the best time to see a Geminid meteor in the sky.
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Photograph the Geminid meteor shower with our top tips
Top tips to help you increase your chances of capturing a Gemind on camera.
Meteor showers | When the next one is, and how to see it
Find out whether there is a meteor shower occurring above the UK tonight, when the next one is, and how to see a meteor for yourself.
Photograph the Moon with your smartphone camera
Tips and tricks to help you succeed in lunar astrophotography using a smartphone.
End the year with the planets. These are the best ones in the night sky throughout December 2025
Find out what planets are in the night sky tonight and throughout the month of December 2023.
Observing guide | How to see the planets in 2025
Our month-by-month guide to locating the planets throughout 2025.
Leonids 2023 | See the meteor shower peak this weekend with our charts and top tips
The Leonid meteor shower peaks on 17 November. Find out how to see it in our beginner's guide.
Observing planets, November 2024
See Jupiter, its moons and its atmospheric features through a telescope this month.
Halloween Astronomy | How to plan a spooky stargazing session
Witches, dragons, demons and fireballs abound in the autumnal night sky, provided you know where to look.
Observing guide | The best targets to see in the Orion constellation
A guide to the Orion constellation, how to see it and the Hunter's best deep-sky objects.
Orionids 2024 | How to see this year's meteor shower
See the Orionid meteor shower peak this week with our beginners' guide.
Observing guide | Planets, October 2024
As it approaches opposition, now's a great time to observe and image the gas giant.
Observing guide | Best autumn constellations
The darker months are a great time to get out and get stargazing. Get to know the brighter, recognisable constellations that are visible in the autumnal night sky.
Observing guide | 10 autumn binocular astronomy targets
You can see a lot in the night sky with a pair of binoculars. Here are 10 of the best bino targets in Autumn.
An astronomer's tour of autumn and winter targets
Autumn and winter provide great viewing conditions and there is a wealth of objects to observe. Here are some of the best astronomical targets.
Five beautiful galaxies to see in the night sky this autumn. How many can you tick off the list?
In one of Patrick Moore's columns for BBC Sky at Night Magazine, the late astronomer and broadcaster reveals his favourite galaxies to spot in autumn's night skies.
Autumn astronomy | The best targets for longer nights
As nights get longer, these are the top night-sky highlights of autumn and how to see them.
How to photograph a lunar eclipse
Read our astrophotography guide and image a lunar eclipse.
Mars reaches opposition in February 2027, the best time to see the Red Planet
This week is the best time to view Mars all year, as the Red Planet reaches opposition.
Observing guide | See Jupiter's moons transit the gas giant
Observe Jupiter's Galilean moons this month.
Planets | See the Solar System worlds in September 2025
Saturn, Venus and Jupiter are among the best planets to see this month
6 deep-sky objects to observe around Polaris, the North Star
There are plenty of deep-sky targets for astronomers to observe around Polaris. Take our astronomy treasure hunt around the North Celestial Pole.