See the 2025 winners of the biggest astrophotography competition in the world
Eureka! We thought we knew how the Universe works, but these radical ideas changed everything
Astrophysicist Ersilia Vaudo explores five key moments in astronomy and space science that forever changed what we know about the cosmos
Group of photographers capture stunning image of distant galaxy with a black hole at its heart
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS
If Pluto has a liquid ocean, it's one of the best places to search for life beyond Earth
ESA Proba-3 mission first images
Finally! Webb has discovered water ice around a nearby star just like our own Solar System
Oxygen on Earth is running out. Here’s what that means for us
Earth’s oxygen-rich atmosphere is not a permanent feature, and its loss will mark the end of complex life on our planet," says Kazumi Ozaki, Assistant Professor at Toho University
Venus is more like Earth than we thought. Archive NASA data allows scientists to peer beneath the surface
"A new worst case scenario." Biggest solar storm ever recorded hit our planet in 12,350 BC at the end of the Ice Age
BBC Sky at Night Magazine virtual events
The Art of Solar Imaging
Our expert talks will show you how to work with the Sun’s intense light in safety and capture the effects of solar maximum
Masterclass: Aurora
The science of the aurora, how to plan and predict the aurora and capture a display using smartphones and DSLR cameras
Masterclass: Sunspots
What sunspots are, what kit you can get on a budget to safely observe and image their movement across the Sun
Masterclass: Sun's interior
The kit needed to photograph the Sun's dynamic features and how to process your solar images to make them even better
New to astronomy?
Our simple guides will help you make the most of your time under the stars
14 things new stargazers should know
New to astronomy? Here are some things you'll notice in the night sky as you spend your first year stargazing.
How to become a better astronomer
You've spent many hours observing the night sky. So how can you improve and be more productive at the telescope eyepiece?
How to stargaze from a city
Light pollution from towns and cities makes viewing the night sky a tricky business. But there are things you can do to help.
How to star-hop the night sky
Stuck trying to find stars? Star-hopping is a tried and tested technique that will help you to navigate the sky.
Astronomy advice
Answers to some of the most commonly-asked cosmic questions
Why did it take so long for astronomers to discover Uranus?
Why was Uranus not known to ancient astronomers?
How many stars can a person see in the night sky?
When we look up at the night sky, how many stars can we see, and what magnitude can the human eye see unaided?
What came before the Big Bang? These are the best theories we have about the origin of the cosmos
We explore the theories about one of the most mind-boggling questions about the Universe.
Why the Moon sometimes looks orange
What causes the Moon to appear a red, rusty colour?
Buyers' guides
Our pick of the best astronomy equipment
Best telescope mounts
On the hunt for a new telescope mount, or picking one to go with your first telescope? Read our guide to the best mounts, both budget models and high-end.
Best binoculars for astronomy
Binoculars are a great way of getting into astronomy and stargazing.
Buyer's guide | Best astro imaging cameras
Which cameras are best for astrophotography and what type should you buy? We'll guide you through the different types and the best cameras on the market.
Best beginners' telescopes
Looking to buy your first telescope but don't know where to start? We've picked out some of the best beginner telescopes on the market.
10 of the best wi-fi and smartphone telescopes in 2025
Our pick of the best telescopes operated via a smartphone or tablet.
Best telescopes for kids
Buying a telescope for children can be a tricky task. We've tested some of the best telescopes for kids and young people getting started in astronomy.
Astronomy equipment reviews
The latest telescopes, cameras, binoculars, mounts and accessories tried and tested.
The StellaMira 86mm ED is a dedicated astrophoto telescope. We tested it out on galaxies and star clusters
Pin-sharp stars, rock-solid build and easy imaging – we’re impressed
ZWO ASI585MM Pro cooled mono camera
Pegasus Astro NYX-88 mount
This sturdy yet light mount delivers near-flawless, reliable, on-the-button accuracy
Sky-Watcher Heliostar 76Ha refractor review
Starpoint Australis Octans portable observatory review
Altair 678c colour USB3 astronomy camera
A fast-frame-rate, high-sensitivity option for imaging the Moon and planets,
Podcasts
Radio Astronomy Podcast | Detecting spacetime ripples of black holes
Astronomers have detected evidence of gravitational waves from supermassive black holes at the centres of merging galaxies.
Podcast: The search for Earth 2.0
Astronomer Chris Impey discusses the search for habitable worlds beyond our Solar System.
Podcast | Lance Bass
We speak with Lance Bass - former member of boyband N'Sync - about his experience training as a cosmonaut and his new podcast The Last Soviet.
Astrophotography
Comet 3I/ATLAS in pictures. These are all the images of the interstellar visitor captured so far
How to bring out the beautiful play of lunar light and shadow in your Moon photography
NASA astronaut captures rare image of 'upwards' lightning shooting into Earth's upper atmosphere
Seeing a 'ghost' Moon in your photos? Here's why, and how to fix it
Why do images of the Moon at night sometimes contain an extra 'ghost' Moon off to one side?
Astronomy Photographer of the Year 17 | Watch the awards online
The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2025 awards ceremony will be live-streamed this week.
Gallery | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?
Astrophotography galleries
Gallery | Venus
Facts about Venus and images of the hellish planet captured by astrophotographers.
Voyager's best images of the Solar System
Forty years ago, the twin Voyager spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending back beautiful images of our Solar System, the like of which had never been seen before.
Lunar eclipses explained
What is a lunar eclipse and why do they happen? Discover the science of lunar eclipses and view amazing pictures of the rusty-red 'blood Moon'.
Gallery | Kemble's Cascade
Advice on how to observe Kemble's Cascade, and images of the asterism.
Gallery | Caldwell 7
Images of and facts about Caldwell 7, a spiral galaxy in Camelopardalis.
Best ways to observe a full Moon
Some will tell you a full Moon is the worst time to observe our lunar neighbour, but there's still plenty to see when the Moon is fully illuminated.
Spaceflight
This Japanese spacecraft is due to land on an asteroid, but it could be in for a surprise
Spaceflight history | Who were the Mercury 7?
A guide to NASA's Mercury Project and the Mercury 7 astronauts who became the first Americans to fly into space and orbit Earth.
Follow the track this NASA rover took to find hints of life on Mars. Interactive map allows us to explore the Red Planet
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS could soon be seen by spacecraft at Mars, Jupiter and the Sun, scientists say
NASA rover finds evidence of ancient life on Mars. Here's what it means
James Webb Space Telescope | See the latest images
See the latest full colour images to be released by the JWST.
Vintage Sagan, vintage Voyager. NASA video shows historic conference where Solar System photo is shown for the first time
Clear skies on Mars as NASA rover captures one of the sharpest panoramas of the Red Planet ever taken
DIY Astronomy
Make a Moon phase calculator and calendar
Make a mechanical instrument that calculates and displays the phase of the Moon for any chosen day of the year.
How to build a rolling telescope dolly
Complete our astronomy DIY project to wheel your telescope setup in and out of storage without delay.
Can't see the aurora? You can detect it with a homemade magnetometer
Follow our guide to create your own record of space weather and produce an audio recording of it. Written by Stuart Green