Skills

A pair of binoculars may be all you need to get started in astronomy. Credit: VW Pics / Contributor / Getty Images

5 top tips for binocular astronomy

Durdle Door in Dorset, UK A nightscape capture of the Milky Way is a great opportunity to try your processing skills. Credit: Schroptschop / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Observing guide How to see the Milky Way

The Dumbbell Nebula captured by Brant Cambridge, California, US. Equipment: FLI PL09000 mono CCD camera, PlaneWave 24-inch astrograph, PlaneWave Ascension 200HR mount.

Deep-sky tour 6 planetary nebulae to spot in the night sky

An Artist's impression of Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars. Credit: Elen11 / Getty Images

Mars Opposition 2020 How to see the moons of Mars

M81, Bode's Galaxy. Credit: Rochus Hess / CCDGuide.com

8 Messier objects to spot in the night sky

Stargazers observe the Perseid meteor shower over the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, Canada, 10 August 2018. Credit: VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Perseids 2020 How to see this year's meteor shower

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

Meteor showers How to observe and record shooting stars

The angle between Earth, Venus and the Sun is 90˚ at greatest western elongation. Credit: Pete Lawrence

See Venus at greatest western elongation

How to transform your astrophotos with image processing. Credit: Farknot_Architect / iStock / Getty Images

Astrophotography guides

Image processing Bring out the best in your astrophotos

Create a mineral Moon astrophoto. Credit: Dave Eagle

Astrophotography guides

Image processing Create a mineral Moon astrophoto

Mars reaches its highest position for August at the month’s close. Credit: Pete Lawrence

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

Create a spectrograph for your smartphone. Credit: Mark Parrish

How to create a spectrograph for your smartphone

Read our guide to find out how to use and make the most of Stellarium.

How to install and use Stellarium astronomy software

Michael Rosinski captured a Perseid display near his home in Michigan, USA, last year. This image was taken with a Canon EOS 70D DSLR camera and 11-16mm lens. Credit: M. Rosinski

Do you need a tracking mount to photograph meteors?

Comet C/2020 F3 (NEOWISE) captured from Deir el Qamar Lebanon, overseeing Majdel El Meouch top, during nautical twilight, 5 July 2020. Taken by Maroun Habib. Equipment: Canon EOS 6D DSLR camera, TMB92SS telescope. Credit: Maroun Habib.

Comet NEOWISE Catch it before it fades from view