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
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.
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.
How to see comets 24P/Schaumasse and C/2024 E1 Wierzchoś
Comet 24P/Schaumasse is well placed during February 2026, but fading
Jupiter is still king of the planets in March 2026. Here's how to see it at its best
Jupiter is your planet of the month for March 2026
Observing guide | Visible planets in March
A guide to observing the planets in March, and which planets will not be visible.
Visible planets in the night sky, February 2026
How to see the planets in the sky this month.
How to photograph the Moon
How to take photos of the Moon: photograph a crescent, capture craters, what equipment you need, techniques, tips and photographing the Moon with a smartphone.
How to photograph an enormous Moon on the horizon
Observing guide | How to observe the Moon
Want to get to know the Moon better? Discover how to explore our celestial neighbour with our observing guide.
Gallery | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?
Smart telescopes – what they do and how to use one
A guide to the automated telescopes controlled via the push of a button
February 2026 is your best chance to see Mercury. Here's how to make the most of the planet
There's a good chance to spot the closest planet to the Sun this month
In February 2026, the Moon meets the stars and planets in the night sky. Here's how to see it all
How to see the Moon meet stars and planets this month
A guide to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo
Find out how to observe one of the brightest stars in the spring sky.
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,
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.
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.
