Observing

Composite image of Mercury transiting across the sun on 9 May, 2016, as seen by HMI on NASA's Solar Dynamics Obersvatory. Credit: NASA/SDO

Transit of Mercury 2019 Livestream

Dunkery Beacon in Exmoor National Park is one of many places in the UK where beautiful vistas of the night sky can be seen. Credit: Keith Trueman

12 of the best places to stargaze in the UK

The Veil Nebula, Thomas Henne / CCDGuide.com

Observing guide The best supernova remnants to see in November's night skies

Clouds can be the bane of amateur astronomers' lives. But how can you tell when good stargazing conditions are approaching? Credit: UniversalImagesGroup / Contributor / Getty Images

Astronomy weather forecasts: predicting the weather for stargazing

Friends stargazing. Credit: EvgeniyShkolenko / Getty

Observing guide How to see the planets in 2020

A focal length of 1,000mm (or above) is needed to define Mercury against the Sun’s disc. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Astrophoto guides

How to photograph the transit of Mercury

Mercury passing in front of the Sun captured in 2006 by the Solar Optical Telescope. Credit: Hinode JAXA/NASA/PPARC

Transit of Mercury, 11 November 2019: what it is and how to see it

An image of the Sun that looks strikingly like a Halloween jack o lantern. This image was captured by NASA's SDO probe. Credit: NASA/SDO

Halloween Astronomy How to plan a spooky stargazing session

Find out which planets are best to see in the night sky, October 2019. Credit: Pete Lawrence.

Observing guide The best planets to see in October 2019

A conjunction of Jupiter and the Moon. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Observing guide See conjunctions of the Moon and Jupiter, Saturn, Venus in October 2019

View a double transit of Jupiter with moons Io and Europa on 24 October. Credit: Pete Lawrence.

See Jupiter’s moons cast their shadow on the gas giant

How to hold your binoculars steady during long observing sessions. Credit: Steve Tonkin

How to hold your binoculars steady

Hadley Rille, as imaged by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University

Observing guide Explore the hidden valleys of the Moon

The Moon, as seen by the Lick Observatory. Credit: Lick Observatory

Patrick Moore’s guide to observing the Moon

Longer nights mean more time at the telescope. Make sure you're prepared for the 2019/20 astronomy season. Credit: m-gucci/GettyImages

Astronomy guide Night-sky highlights, autumn-winter 2019-2020