Russell Deeks
Science writer
Russell Deeks is a freelance journalist specialising in science and technology. He has been an occasional contributor to BBC Sky at Night Magazine since 2006.
Recent articles by Russell Deeks
What mammatus clouds are, and why the lumpy formations mean time to pack up your telescope
A guide to the large lumpy cloud formations known as mammatus.
A black dwarf star is so old, it's even older than the Universe itself and doesn't technically exist...yet
A guide to the hypothetical star known as a black dwarf.
Despite the theories, the Van Allen Belts don't make space travel impossible, but they are a potential danger
The science of the Van Allen Belts.
Yes the Moon is rusting, and it's all Earth's fault. But there's still a missing piece of the puzzle.
Move over Saturn. Jupiter also has rings, but they may have been hampered by the planet's colossal moons
Facts about and images of Jupiter's rings.
How amateur astrophotographers captured a little-known dying star called the Spin Nebula
Astrophotographers tracked down and photographed a planetary nebula known as the Spin Nebula in the Gum 14/15 nebula complex.
29 of the scariest things in space
Take our tour of terror through the cosmos.
What is quantum immortality and does it really mean that we all live forever, theoretically speaking?
Quantum immortality, quantum suicide, many worlds and Schrödinger’s Cat, and how they relate to mind-boggling theoretical physics.
21 coolest things in space
Our pick of some of the coolest things in space that we know of.
How long does it take for light from the Sun to reach Earth?
The answer is either 8 minutes 20 seconds or thousands of years, depending on how you look at it!
How long is a day on Mars? This is how NASA scientists measure the length of a day on the Red Planet
Mars days vs Earth days, sidereal vs solar: how long would you have if you spent a day on the Red Planet?
12 facts about the April 8 total solar eclipse that perfectly show why it's so special
April 8 solar eclipse weather and cloud cover: clear skies, chances of rain and thunderstorms on Monday night
What is the biggest planet in our Solar System and in the known Universe?
Find out which is the biggest planet in our Solar System and some of the biggest exoplanets.
Why February has only 28 days? Nothing more scientific than Roman superstition...
Why is February so short? Why do its days number just 28?
Moons of Uranus
Discover facts about Uranus's moons, when they were discovered, who they're named after, which are the biggest and smallest.
What Sun dogs are and how to see one
Find out what causes this optical phenomena and what conditions are needed to see one for yourself.
9 beautiful edge-on galaxies, and why they're important
We don't see all galaxies the same! Some appear edge-on from Earth. Here are 9 of the most famous.
Why is Earth called 'Earth'?
It's our home planet. But have you ever wondered where Earth got its name from?
Parsecs explained
What is a parsec and how is it calculated? And what was Han Solo's error in Star Wars?
Gravity in space? Despite what you may think, there's loads of it
The force we call gravity is everywhere and affecting everything.
How old is the Sun?
How old is the Sun, and why is the Sun nearly the same age as planet Earth?
When will the world end?
Can science tell us when the world will end?
Where is Earth located in the Milky Way?
Far from being at the centre of the Universe, Earth is located in the spiral arm of a fairly small galaxy.