Pete Lawrence

Recent articles by Pete Lawrence

The radiant is the point from which a meteor shower appears to originate, as seen from Earth. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Meteor showers How to observe and record shooting stars

Celestron NexStar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain review

Celestron NexStar 8SE Schmidt Cassegrain review

£1599 Price correct at time of review

Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will appear close together in the early part of April. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see the planets throughout April 2020

Venus and the Pleiades seen through cloud on 4 April 2012. Credit: Pete Lawrence

See Venus against the Pleiades star cluster, 1-6 April 2020

A view out of the window with the shadow-casting Venus symbol attached to the glass. Venus’s light had to pass through tree branches on the way. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Capture a shadow cast by the planet Venus

Supernova SN2011fe in Messier 101 – supernova hunting is an important activity ideally suited to amateur astro imaging. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

Image processing Deep-sky imaging for science

Spectroscopy Credit: LWA / Getty Images

Astrophoto guides

Imaging for science Astronomical deep-sky photometry and spectroscopy

Celestron Advanced VX 700 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope review

Celestron Advanced VX 700 Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope

£2395 Price correct at time of review

NGC 3953. Credit: Martin Rusterholz / CCDguide.com

Astronomy tour Explore the sights of Ursa Major

Also known as the Da Vinci Glow, earthshine allows us to see features on the Moon’s dark side. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide Earthshine: what it is and how to see it

Venus and the waxing crescent Moon will put on a stunning show this month. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see the planets throughout March 2020

A full-colour Mars and the filtered images from which it was built. Each filter reveals a different aspect of the planet. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

Imaging for science How to photograph Mars

A false-colour image of cloud tops captured by Venus Express from a distance of 30,000km on 8 December 2011. Credit: ESA/MPS/DLR/IDA

The green flash of Venus: what it is and how to see it

The positions of Venus and Mercury from 1–19 February. Bright Mercury is particularly well placed for observing at the start of the month when it is mag. –0.9. Credit: Pete Lawrence

A guide to viewing the planets throughout February 2020

Spot Jupiter's moon Callisto casting its shadow on the gas giant, 26 February 2020. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See moon Callisto cast a shadow on Jupiter