Astronomy for beginners

The International Space Station appears in the night sky above Banff National Park, Canada. Also visible in the image is the auroral phenomenon known as STEVE. Credit: Alan Dyer/Stocktrek Images/Getty Images

How to see the International Space Station in the night sky

A view of the Milky Way over Gran Sasso, Italy. The bright red 'star' on the left is Mars, while Saturn is at the middle of the image. The bright 'star' on the right is Jupiter. Credit: Dneutral Han / Getty Images

How to find the planets in the night sky

Creat a pinhole camera and track the path of the Sun across the sky

How to make a pinhole camera

Noctilucent clouds. Credit: Meindert van der Haven/istock/getty images

Noctilucent clouds What they are and how to see them

The lights from towns and cities can blot out views of the night sky. Credit: iStock

Astronomy FAQs What's the best telescope to use under light pollution?

The best telescopes for kids and young astronomers. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Best telescopes for kids

How to set up an equatorial mount

Astronomy FAQs Why do I need to polar align my equatorial mount?

Venus appears near a crescent Moon. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See Venus near a beautiful crescent Moon this weekend

Celestron 2-inch diagonal

Astronomy FAQs What is a diagonal used for on a telescope?

Celestron Omni XLT AZ 102 Refractor/basic mount

Astronomy FAQs I'm buying my first telescope. Should I get a reflector or a refractor?

Altair 150EDF apochromatic doublet refractor. Credit: BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Astronomy FAQs What is a telescope baffle?

BBC Sky at Night Magazine's News Editor Ezzy Pearson prepares to observe the 2017 total solar eclipse in the US, armed with her Coronado PST Credit: Elizabeth Pearson

How can I do astronomy during the day?

Telescope finderscopes are a great way of locating celestial objects for a closer look. Read our reviews of the latest finderscopes.

Astronomy FAQs What is a guidescope?

Asterisms (shown in red) can cross constellations, which are in fact regions of sky, not just the main patterns. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Constellations and asterisms: what’s the difference?

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