Skills

An image of the Andromeda Galaxy by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer.

12 sights of Christmas: astronomy observing targets for the festive season

Keep an eye on the location of Mars throughout December 2019. The stars (above) are shown relative to the horizon at 06:30 UT on 31 December. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Observing guide: the best planets to see in December 2019

The Geminids is one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. Credit: Pete Lawrence

How to see the Geminid meteor shower 2019

How to take nightscape photography. Credit: Serge Brunier, TWAN

Astrophoto guides

How to take nightscape photographs

Dunkery Beacon in Exmoor National Park is one of many places in the UK where beautiful vistas of the night sky can be seen. Credit: Keith Trueman

12 of the best places to stargaze in the UK

The solar corona visible during the total solar eclipse on 2 July, 2019, captured from ESO’s La Silla Observatory in Chile. Totality will strike again in 2020. Credit: P. Horálek/ESO

2020 solar and lunar eclipses: an eclipse-chaser’s guide

The final shot of M33, stacked from 13 two-minute exposures, after post-processing. Credit: Dave Eagle

Astrophoto guides

Image processing How to use DeepSkyStacker for astrophotography

An image of Venus captured by the Venus Express spacecraft.

Observing guide The best planets to see in November 2019

The Veil Nebula, Thomas Henne / CCDGuide.com

Observing guide The best supernova remnants to see in November's night skies

Clouds can be the bane of amateur astronomers' lives. But how can you tell when good stargazing conditions are approaching? Credit: UniversalImagesGroup / Contributor / Getty Images

Astronomy weather forecasts: predicting the weather for stargazing

An annular solar eclipse occurs when the moon's shadow cone doesn't quite reach Earth's surface. Credit: Bairi from Pixabay.com https://pixabay.com/illustrations/annular-solar-eclipse-eclipse-2003461

How to see the ‘ring of fire’ annular solar eclipse this Christmas

Friends stargazing. Credit: EvgeniyShkolenko / Getty

Observing guide How to see the planets in 2020

The glare of light pollution can be a menace for amateur astronomers. Credit: Steve Marsh

What can we do about light pollution?

A focal length of 1,000mm (or above) is needed to define Mercury against the Sun’s disc. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

How to photograph the transit of Mercury

Mercury passing in front of the Sun captured in 2006 by the Solar Optical Telescope. Credit: Hinode JAXA/NASA/PPARC

Transit of Mercury, 11 November 2019: what it is and how to see it