Pete Lawrence

Recent articles by Pete Lawrence

Clavius is a wonderfully rugged moon crater, ripe for observing with a telescope. Credit: Pete Lawrence

How to see crater Clavius on the Moon

Make the most of Mars at opposition in 2020. Credit:Pete Lawrence

Mars Opposition 2020 See the Red Planet at its best

Mercury and Spica, as they appear through a telescope eyepiece at x25 on 22 September at 14:30 BST (13:30 UT). Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See planet Mercury near Spica

Venus and a 14%-lit waning crescent Moon near M44 on the morning of 14 September. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See Venus, Moon and Beehive Cluster, 11-15 September

A clear night can provide a perfect opportunity for a conjunction photo, like this pairing of Jupiter and the Moon. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

How to photograph a conjunction

Þ During the course of September, Mars will appear to increase in size by about 22%. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see the planets in the night sky, September 2020

A composite image showing the apparent reversal of Mars's movement in the night sky. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Mars Opposition 2020 See the Red Planet in retrograde

The Dumbbell Nebula captured by Brant Cambridge, California, US. Equipment: FLI PL09000 mono CCD camera, PlaneWave 24-inch astrograph, PlaneWave Ascension 200HR mount.

Deep-sky tour 6 planetary nebulae to spot in the night sky

An Artist's impression of Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars. Credit: Elen11 / Getty Images

Mars Opposition 2020 How to see the moons of Mars

Stargazers observe the Perseid meteor shower over the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party, Canada, 10 August 2018. Credit: VW Pics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Perseids 2020 How to see this year's meteor shower

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

The angle between Earth, Venus and the Sun is 90˚ at greatest western elongation. Credit: Pete Lawrence

See Venus at greatest western elongation

Mars reaches its highest position for August at the month’s close. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide How to see the planets in the night sky, August 2020

Canon EOS-1D X DSLR camera

Canon EOS-1D X DSLR camera review

£5299 Price correct at time of review

Venus travels through Taurus this month and is close to the Hyades, Aldebaran and the Moon. Star positions correct for 03:00 BST (02:00 UT) mid-month, from the centre of the UK. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See Venus in the Hyades star cluster this month