Astronomy for beginners

Are you new to astronomy? Our beginners’ guides are filled with hints and tips to help you get started in observing the night sky.

A composite images showing the stages of a solar eclipse. Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

What is a solar eclipse?

An annular solar eclipse captured from Lubbock, Texas in 2012. Credit: Willoughby Owen / Getty Images

Eclipses 2021 This year's solar and lunar eclipses

What to see in the night sky in 2021. Credit: Christianto Soning / EyeEm / Getty Images

Stargazing 2021 What to see in the night sky this year

The Moon may always keep the same face turned to us, but the terminator makes sure that face keeps changing. Image Credit: iStock

Why does the Moon have phases?

What you need to know when buying a secondhand telescope or other astronomy equipment. Credit: BongkarnThanyakij / iStock / Getty Images, Steve Marsh

Buying a secondhand telescope: what you need to know

A Quadrantid meteor appears in the night sky along with the Milky Way and the Aurora over Banff National Park, Canada, 3 January 2009. Credit: Stocktrek Images / Getty Images

Quadrantids 2021 See the first major meteor shower of 2021

The Orion constellation. Credit: VW Pics / Getty Images'

Observing guide Best winter constellations

What to see in the night sky on 25 December. Credit: Allexxandar / Getty Images

Christmas Astronomy What's in the night sky on 25 December

How to see the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn, 21 December 2020. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Great Conjunction See Jupiter and Saturn's planetary 'kiss', 21 December

Leave your telescope and binoculars at home. Meteor showers are best spotted with the naked eye. Credit: Isa Terli/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Ursids 2020 See this year's Christmas meteor shower

The Geminids is one of the most prolific meteor showers of the year. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Geminids 2020 How to see this year's meteor shower

Though the Moon completes an orbit of Earth in 27.3 days, it takes 29.5 to complete a cycle of phases due to our planet's motion around the Sun. Image Credit: iStock

Observing guide Spend a month with the Moon

Neptune is located in a triangle formed by Phi (ϕ) Aquarii, 96 Aquarii and HIP 115257

Observing guide How to see the planets, December 2020

The Orion constellation. Credit: iStock

Thanksgiving stars Spend this year's holiday with Orion

The Leonid meteor shower as seen from Lampang Thailand. Credit: NirutiStock / Getty Images

Leonids 2020 How to see this year's meteor shower