Iain Todd

Science journalist

Iain Todd is BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Staff Writer. He fell in love with the night sky when he caught his first glimpse of Orion, aged 10.

Recent articles by Iain Todd

A view of the Sun captured by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft during perihelion, the spacecraft's closest point to the Sun in its orbit. Credit: ESA & NASA/Solar Orbiter/EUI Team

Solar Orbiter See the spacecraft's brand new close-up images of our Sun

Astronomers have captured the first ever image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of our Galaxy. Credit: EHT Collaboration

Astronomers reveal first ever image of the black hole at the centre of our Galaxy

Celestron Omni XLT AZ 102 Refractor/basic mount

Best beginners' telescopes

Earth's cosmic address

What is our cosmic address?

The Boomerang Nebula: a planetary nebula considered to be the coldest known place in the entire Universe. Credit: European Space Agency, NASA

Where is the coldest place in the Universe?

This breathtaking photo of Ireland was captured by former NASA astronaut Terry Virts on 13 March 2015 from the International Space Station. The clouds seem to have parted to enable Virts to get the shot, just 4 days ahead of St Patrick's Day. Easily discernible in the northeast of the island is Lough Neagh, located in Northern Ireland and the largest freshwater lake on the whole island. Also visible in the image are the curvature of the Earth and solar panels providing solar energy to the ISS. Credit: NASA/ESA/Terry Virts

Ireland from space

Prof Andrew Coates of University College London pictured with the ExoMars 2022 PanCam instrument. Credit: ESA

Interview How the ExoMars 2020 rover will search for signs of life on the Red Planet

Isolating at home can be a challenge, but astronomy is one way of passing the time. Credit: mixetto / Getty Images

Astronomy in isolation Stargazing activities for those stuck at home

An artist's impression of Proxima d, the newly-discovered exoplanet orbiting Proxima Centauri. Credit: ESO/L. Calçada

Third planet discovered round the closest star to the Solar System

The Sickle asterism is found in the constellation Leo. Credit: CEDIC Team + Hubl Bernard / CCDGuide.com

How to spot the Sickle star pattern in the night sky

Spiral Galaxy NGC 1706

Eye On The Sky A Christmas galaxy in full view

The Christmas Tree Cluster. This image was captured using the Wide Field Imager camera attached to the 2.2-metre Max-Planck Society/ESO telescope at La Silla Observatory, 2,400m high in the Chilean Atacama Desert. Credit: ESO

Christmas Tree Cluster: NGC 2264 glows a festive red

The Leonid meteor shower as seen from Lampang Thailand. Credit: NirutiStock / Getty Images

Leonids 2021 How to see this year's meteor shower

The Golden Ring Shuchang Dong

Astrophotography

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2021 Winners announced

Kynance Cove under the Milky Way Louise Jones (UK). Category: The Sir Patrick Moore Prize for Best Newcomer. Equipment Nikon D7100 camera, Sigma 10-20 mm lens at 10 mm f/3.5, ISO 3200, 5 x 25-second exposures.

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 13 Watch the awards online tonight