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
Perseids 2024 | How to see this month's meteor shower
The Perseid meteor shower begins late July and peaks every August. Find out how you can spot a Perseid in the night sky this month.
How to see the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower
Enjoy a moonless sky for this week's peak of the Southern Delta Aquariids.
Not one eclipse this summer – but two! Get ready for a solar eclipse, a Blood Moon and shooting stars all in the same month
A lunar eclipse will be visible at the end of August 2026 in North America, Europe, the UK and Africa. Here's how to see it.
This is the only solar eclipse photograph guide you need. How to capture the perfect eclipse image
Capture totality with our solar eclipse photography guide
Saturn returns! How to see the ringed planet in July 2026
Saturn returns to the morning sky in July 2026
Best planets to see in July 2026
Our guide to the best planets to see in July.
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
There are strange, shining clouds visible in the sky at the moment. Here's how to photograph them with your smartphone
Coax your phone’s camera into low-light mode and catch ethereal noctilucent clouds.
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.
The Moon is a death trap: These are the life-threatening dangers awaiting astronauts on the lunar surface
If we’re ever going to build a base on the Moon, we’ll need to be able to manage a range of threats to human life
After the close conjunction, what next for Venus and Jupiter? Here's how to see them over the rest of June
Track Venus and Jupiter and see their close encounter in June 2026
How to see crater Reinhold on the Moon. A guide to locating this beautiful feature and key features to observe in and around it
Reinhold has managed to keep its good looks and appears like a perfect specimen
The best planets to see in the night sky, June 2026
Find out what planets are worth observing in the sky this month.
Now is one of your best chances to see the planet closest to the Sun. Catch Mercury in the evening twilight in June 2026
How to see Mercury in the evening sky in June 2026. Get key dates and times and observing advice for beginners
How to photograph the Moon with a smartphone
Tips and tricks to help you succeed in lunar astrophotography using a smartphone.
How to photograph an enormous Moon on the horizon
How to capture the Moon illusion
How to photograph and record the motion of noctilucent clouds
Capture the movement, structure and colours of summer’s night-shining clouds in our astrophotography guide.
Observing guide | How to see the planets in 2025
Our month-by-month guide to locating the planets throughout the year
We're about to get a new star in the night sky. Here's how to photograph the Blaze Star when it erupts
How to photograph the constellation Corona Borealis and capture the Blaze Star when it erupts and produces a new star in the sky
Venus and Jupiter are closing in one each other. Here's how to capture spectacular images of their close encounter
Top tips for photographing Venus and Jupiter in May and June 2026, including the close conjunction on 9 June 2026
Jupiter is one of the best planets to see in May 2026. Here's our complete guide for the whole month
How to track the planet Jupiter in the night sky throughout 2026, including best times to see and how to observe the gas giant
Visible planets in May 2025
Our guide to observing the planets this month
A large full Moon mosaic takes your lunar photography to the next level. Here's how to do it, step-by-step
Find out how to photograph and stitch together sections of the Moon to make a full Moon mosaic.
Venus and Jupiter are side-by-side in May 2026, with a close encounter coming in June. Here's how to track them every night
Track the two brightest planets at the moment as they head for a close encounter this summer
