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

Kieron Vernon, Coventry, UK, 11 July 2020. Equipment: Sony a7III camera, Sigma 24-70mm lens, ISO 800, 20x6”.

Observing guide What comets and asteroids are in the sky tonight?

How to see the planets June 2022

Observing guide See the planets in the night sky, June 2022

A star chart showing the location of star Aldebaran in Taurus

How to see star Aldebaran, the fiery eye of the Bull

bootes constellation chart

A guide to the constellation Boötes

The 16 May lunar eclipse captued by Tomáš Slovinský, San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Total lunar eclipse, 16 May 2022

Albedo features on Mars. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Get ready for Mars at opposition in December 2022

Star Bellatrix in Orion

A guide to star Bellatrix

Vega by Jamie Bowring, Devon, UK. Equipment: SW 150p, Canon 30D

A guide to star Vega

star altair

A guide to star Altair

From the centre of the UK, Porrima is occulted at 05:52 UT on 19 March as the sky is brightening due to the approach of dawn. Credit: Pete Lawrence

See a lunar occultation of Porrima, 13 May 2022

The Milky Way and an Eta Aquariid meteor, Park City, Utah, USA. Credit: Nam Do / 500px / Getty Images

Eta Aquariids 2022 See this year's meteor shower

Lunar Eclipse (10/12/2011) by Tim Jukes, Tsukuba, Japan.

Astrophotography guides

How to create a video animation of a lunar eclipse

The Leo I galaxy, just to the right of bright star Regulus. Credit: Scott Anttila

Spot star Regulus, a jewel in the springtime sky

The bowl of virgo asterism

How to see the Bowl of Virgo asterism

Saturn Eric Sussenbach, Willemstad, Curaçao, 25 April 2021 Equipment: ZWO ASI 462MC colour camera, Celestron 11” EdgeHD SCT, Celestron AVX mount

Observing guide See Saturn in the night sky, May 2022