Pete Lawrence
Astronomer and presenter
Pete Lawrence is an experienced astronomer and astrophotographer, and a presenter on BBC's The Sky at Night.
Recent articles by Pete Lawrence
As the next full Moon approaches, we'll get to see it pass in front of a beautiful blue star cluster
Around 21:30 UT, the 68%-lit waxing gibbous Moon can be seen crossing the northern section of the Pleiades open cluster.
Observing comet 3I/ATLAS in January 2026
Comet 3I/ATLAS is a rare interstellar visitor, a comet not gravitationally bound to any star, and only the third such object ever identified. When discovered by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) survey in Rio Hurtado, Chile, on 1 July 2025, it was 670 million km from the Sun, technically within the inner Solar System. Its closest approach to Earth, 270 million km or 1.8 AU, was on 19 December 2025. Perihelion occurred on 29 October, 203 million km or 1.36 AU from the Sun. Thought to originate from a region of the Milky Way populated by older stars,
Observing guide | What comets and asteroids are in the sky tonight?
What comets and asteroids can you see in the sky tonight and over the coming weeks? Find out when and where to look to see a Near Earth Object.
There's a bright comet perfect for observing through a smart telescope right now. Here's how to see it
Best planets to see in January
Find out which planets you can see in the night sky in January.
Stargazing | What to see in the night sky this month
What can you see in the night sky tonight? Find out what's on view in our monthly stargazing guide.
That bright star in the east? That's Jupiter, and right now is the best time to see the planet. Here's how
Want to photograph the Moon with your smartphone camera, but can't quite manage it? Here's how to do it
Tips and tricks to help you succeed in lunar astrophotography using a smartphone.
There's one more major meteor shower before the year is out! How to see Ursid meteors this week
The Ursid meteor shower makes for a great excuse to get the family looking up at the night sky over the Christmas period. Our guide will show you how.
Geminids 2024 | How to see this year's meteor shower
Find out when is the best time to see a Geminid meteor in the sky.
Photograph the Geminid meteor shower with our top tips
Top tips to help you increase your chances of capturing a Gemind on camera.
Meteor showers | When the next one is, and how to see it
Find out whether there is a meteor shower occurring above the UK tonight, when the next one is, and how to see a meteor for yourself.
Jupiter is the best planet to see right now, and it's only getting better. Here's how to get the most out of it
End the year with the planets. These are the best ones in the night sky throughout December 2025
Find out what planets are in the night sky tonight and throughout the month of December 2023.
Observing guide | How to see the planets in 2025
Our month-by-month guide to locating the planets throughout 2025.
Leonids 2023 | See the meteor shower peak this weekend with our charts and top tips
The Leonid meteor shower peaks on 17 November. Find out how to see it in our beginner's guide.
The cosmos at the click of a button. These new gadget telescopes are changing how we view the night sky
How to see comets 24P/Schaumasse and C/2024 E1 Wierzchoś
Observing planets, November 2024
See Jupiter, its moons and its atmospheric features through a telescope this month.
Uranus is at its best this month. Here's how to see it throughout November 2025
Capture the Moon changing size with these simple photographic tricks
The Harvest Moon rises tonight. Find out how to photograph it with our full beginner's guide
Photograph the Harvest Moon with a DSLR camera and telescope in our astophotography guide.
Photograph the Harvest Moon rising and you'll be able to debunk an illusion as old as the Moon itself
Gallery | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?