Stars
Is Earth in danger if Betelgeuse goes supernova?
Red giant star Betelgeuse, could go supernova relatively soon. Are we in danger? Patrick Moore weighs up the risk in this archive article.
Astronomy explained | What is the brightest star?
The night sky is awash with stars, but which are the brightest? Discover what the brightest star in the night sky is tonight, and how to find it.
Star Diary | 25 to 31 March 2024
T Coronae Borealis nova event guide and how to prepare
Star Diary | 18 to 24 March 2024
This is how astronomers detect hidden binary stars, when two stars orbit one another
How different types of binary star systems are detected by astronomers.
Binary stars and double stars explained, and five of the best to observe through your telescope
The sight of two stars partnered together is stunning, especially when they display vibrant colours.
Star Diary | 11 to 17 March 2024
They say we're made of star stuff, but where does star stuff come from?
How did everything come from the deaths of stars?
Star Diary | 4 to 10 March 2024
How to see star 55 Cancri
On 6 July 2003, a message named ‘Cosmic Call 2’ was sent to the 55 Cancri system. Find out how to see the star in our guide below.
Which came first: stars or galaxies?
After the Big Bang, did stars form and merge into galaxies, or did the first galaxies develop along with the first stars?
A history of star Algol, the winking 'Demon Star' in Perseus
An investigation of the myth around the celebrated ‘winking’ star in Perseus.
Hypergiant stars are the behemoths of the cosmos
New research is uncovering the weird workings of the largest stars in the Universe.
Star UY Scuti is so big, you could fit 5 billion Suns inside it
Is UY Scuti really the biggest star? And how does it compare to the size of our Solar System?
How do stars and planets form? We asked a professional astronomer 5 key questions
Astronomer Claire Davies answers 5 questions about how stars and planets form.
Star Diary | 26 February to 3 March 2024
4 of the biggest stars in the Universe and how to see them for yourself
Use our star charts to help you point your telescope at 4 mindblowing hypergiants.
Understanding what the first stars in the Universe were like will shed light on the Cosmic Dark Ages
Understanding the first stars and what came before will help astronomers solve the mystery of what the Universe was like in the Cosmic Dark Ages.
How did the first stars affect the evolution of the Universe?
Astronomers are understanding more how the first stars that ignited influenced how galaxies grew for generations after their explosive deaths.
Astronomy explained | What are stars?
What is a star? How does a star form and die? Find out in our guide packed with facts about stars and answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions.
Star Diary 12 to 18 February 2024
What happens when a planet orbits two stars at once
It's possible for a planet to orbit two stars at once, causing extraordinary cosmic dances to occur. What weird orbits might be possible around binary stars?