Skills

Expert advice on a range of practical astronomy techniques, from setting up your telescope to combatting light pollution.

The radiant is the point from which a meteor shower appears to originate, as seen from Earth. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Meteor showers When the next one is, and how to see it

Chart showing the location of Mercury throughout April 2023

Mercury See the inner planet at its best throughout April

How to improve your image processing

Astrophotography guides

How to improve your image processing

How to observe Mercury in the night sky. Credit: WALTER MYERS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Mercury How to see the planet at its best throughout April

venus and moon diffraction spikes. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophotography guides

3 unique ways to photograph the planet Venus

Ireland offers plenty of opportunity to combine raw natural beauty with crystal clear skies; this serene scene is part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. Credit: iStock

10 best places for stargazing in Ireland

How to attach a DSLR to a telescope. Credit: Charlotte Daniels

Astrophotography

How to attach a DSLR camera to a telescope

Zodiacal Light Joshua Rhoades, Mason County, Illinois, USA, 7 March 2021. Equipment: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR, Irix 15mm lens, Sky-Watcher StarAdventurer

How to see the Zodiacal Light

Silhouette of person photographing the Moon with their smartphone

Astrophotography guides

Photograph the Moon with your smartphone camera

A conjunction of the moon with Venus and Jupiter, Chanthaburi, Chanthabur, Thailand, 28 November 2019. Credit: Chakarin Wattanamongkol / Getty Images

Observing guide Upcoming conjunctions and how to see them

Relative positions of Venus and Jupiter throughout March at approximately 19:30 UT as seen from the centre of the UK

Observing guide See Venus and Jupiter in the sky throughout March

Colours can be revealed in star trail captures, like those near bright, electric-blue Vega. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophotography guides

How to bring out the colours of stars in your night-sky photography

How to observe constellations. Credit: Balzs Ujhelyi / EyeEm / Getty Images

How to observe and explore the constellations in the night sky

Towards the end of February 2023, Venus and Jupiter appear to be closing in on one another ahead of their closest separation of 38 arcminutes on 1 March. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See Jupiter and Venus in the sky throughout February

lunar occultation of mars

How to calculate and observe lunar occultations