Astrophotography
Whether you’re an astrophotography expert or beginner, our guides and galleries will inspire and help you get the most out of imaging the night sky.
How to produce your own space images using James Webb Space Telescope data
Access the Webb Telescope's RAW data and edit it using image processing to produce your own astrophotos.
Are you going to photograph the April 8 solar eclipse? NASA needs your help making an Eclipse Megamovie
Volunteers have until 18 March to sign up to NASA's citizen science project.
How to do astrophotography and photograph the night sky with your smartphone
You can use your iPhone, Android or other smartphone to take pictures of stars and other astronomical phenomena. In this guide we'll show you how.
See a crescent Moon meet Jupiter and the beautiful blue Pleiades star cluster this week
The waxing crescent Moon creates a stunning scene with Jupiter, the Pleiades and Hyades open clusters this week.
Masterclass: The planets in their prime
Join our Masterclass with Pete Lawrence, expert astro imager and presenter on BBC Four’s The Sky at Night at 7pm on 25 April 2024.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
What's new?
How to do astrophotography and photograph the night sky with your smartphone
You can use your iPhone, Android or other smartphone to take pictures of stars and other astronomical phenomena. In this guide we'll show you how.
See a crescent Moon meet Jupiter and the beautiful blue Pleiades star cluster this week
The waxing crescent Moon creates a stunning scene with Jupiter, the Pleiades and Hyades open clusters this week.
Review of the William Optics RedCat 61WIFD Petzval apo refractor, a great astrophotography telescope
An impressive astrograph that would make a fine addition to anyone’s imaging setup.
Facts about and images of the beautiful spiral Triangulum Galaxy
Images of and facts about the iconic Triangulum Galaxy, M33.
Unistellar launches first mirror telescope that needs no manual adjustment
Unistellar has launched its Odyssey range of smart, Wi-Fi operated telescopes.
Astrophotography guides
Follow our astrophotography guides for in-depth tutorials on photographing the night sky, plus image processing advice to help fine-tune your astro images.
Dark frames? Master them with our step-by-step guide and become an astrophotography expert
How to add dark frames to cut down noise in your DSLR deep-sky images
Photograph Comet 144P/Kushida as it crosses the Hyades star cluster this month
Following Comet 144P/Kushida? You're in for a treat in February 2024 as it passes the Hyades star cluster.
Astrophotography guide | How to use a DSLR camera
Learn DSLR basics with our beginner's photography guide, teaching you DSLR camera settings and techniques for capturing beautiful images.
Comets
Facts about and images of comets, the rocky, icy celestial bodies that orbit the Sun and can sometimes briefly be seen with the naked eye in the night sky above Earth
Eclipses
Beautiful images of lunar and solar eclipses.
Gallery | Solar eclipses
What is a solar eclipse and how do you view one safely? Find out about the celestial mechanics behind these spectacular astronomical events.
Gallery | Lunar eclipses
What is a lunar eclipse and why do they happen? Discover the science of lunar eclipses and view amazing pictures of the rusty-red 'blood Moon'.
Galaxies
There are many types of galaxy, from spiral galaxies to ellipticals, dwarfs and strange-looking irregular galaxies. These are images of some of the most beautiful galaxies in the Universe, captured by astrophotographers on planet Earth.
Gallery | Whirlpool Galaxy
The iconic Whirlpool Galaxy is a favourite deep-sky target for astronomers and astrophotographers alike.
Gallery | Andromeda Galaxy
Facts about the Andromeda Galaxy, M31, and images captured by astrophotographers.
Gallery | Galaxy clusters and groups
A guide to galaxy clusters and groups, and images of these gigantic cosmic structures.
The Moon
Beautiful images of the Moon, including images of lunar craters, clair obscur effects, lunar maria and astrophotos showing the terminator creeping across the Moon's jagged surface.
Gallery | Full Moon
Some will tell you a full Moon is the worst time to observe our lunar neighbour, but there's still plenty to see when the Moon is fully illuminated.
Gallery | Planes in front of the Sun and Moon
A gallery of images of planes passing in front of the solar or lunar disc.
Gallery | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?
Nebulae
Beautiful images of glowing cosmic clouds known as nebulae. These regions of space are filled with gas and dust, out of which new stars will be born. These are some of the most well-known, captured by astrophotographers from around the globe.
Gallery | Dark nebulae
What is a dark nebula, and why do they exist? Find out in our guide.
Gallery | Rosette Nebula
Images and facts about the Rosetta Nebula and the processes that produce its floral appearance.
Gallery | Orion Nebula
Facts about the Orion Nebula and images of the famous star-forming region.
Planets
Beautiful images of the planets of our Solar System and their moons, captured by amateur and professional astrophotographers from around the world.
Gallery | Jupiter's Great Red Spot
Facts about Jupiter's Great Red Spot and images of the centuries-old cyclone.
Gallery | Jupiter's Galilean moons
Facts about and images of Jupiter's four largest satellites, the Galilean moons.
Gallery | Uranus
A guide to the icy ringed giant, and images captured by astrophotographers.
Skyscapes
Astro images showing the beautiful astronomical phenomena that can be seen in Earth's night sky, including stars, conjunctions, star trails and the aurora.
Stars
Pictures of stars, including starscapes, star trails, bright stars in the sky, photos of constellations and images of the starry band of the Millky Way stretching across the night sky.
Gallery | Cassiopeia
A guide to the constellation Cassiopeia, and how to see some of its best stars.
Gallery | The Pleiades
A guide to M45, also known as the Pleiades, and images of the famous open star cluster.
Gallery | Kemble's Cascade
Advice on how to observe Kemble's Cascade, and images of the asterism.
The Sun
Images of the Sun, Earth's host star at the centre of the Solar System, including sunspots, solar flares, solar prominences and solar eclipses.