Astronomy explained | What's a blue Moon?
What is a blue Moon and when is the next one? Find out what the term means and the astronomical definition in our blue Moon guide.
NASA shuts off another Voyager science instrument to save power. The spacecraft is now 15 billion miles from Earth
NASA shuts off Voyager 1's Low-energy Charged Particles experiment, which has been operating since Voyager 1 launched in 1977
This asteroid will skim by Earth and be visible with the naked eye. And scientists have calculated whether it will hit us
Asteroid (99942) Apophis will pass by Earth on 13 April 2029 and should be visible in the night sky to the naked eye
Lyrid meteor shower 2026
Our complete guide to seeing the Lyrids
The Flower Moon is coming. But the next full Moon isn't the only one we'll get in May 2026
Catch the full Moon in May and you will have seen a 'Flower Moon'.
This is the largest 3D map of the Universe ever made
A five-year survey by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument has made the largest 3D map of the Universe ever created
Dark matter is invisible, but it's the most common stuff in the Universe. These scientists just made a detailed map of it
The James Webb Space Telescope has enabled scientists to produce a detailed dark matter map
I'm going to put a hotel on the Moon, and I plan to do it by 2032. Here's how
Bored of the beach? Sick of city breaks? Step this way. Space entrepreneur Skyler Chan explains how he’ll build a holiday destination on the Moon by 2030
Scientists thought there was a black hole at the centre of our Galaxy. It turns out it may be something even stranger
Could the 'black hole' at the centre of our Galaxy actually be dark matter?
Astronomy explained | Why do we always see the same side of the Moon?
Why does the same side of the Moon always face Earth?
BBC Sky at Night Magazine virtual events
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.
Does the Moon look orange tonight? No, you're not seeing things! This is what causes it
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
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.
Better than beginner telescopes? We couldn't believe how good these low-budget binoculars are for stargazing
Sturdy budget-friendly binos that outperform beginner telescopes
These Apollo-inspired eyepieces come at a hefty price, but the views are like being in lunar orbit
These premium optics were inspired by Apollo – and deliver a giant leap to your views
This Sky-Watcher is one of the best beginner telescopes we've reviewed. And it even comes with its own app
A smartphone-controlled, beginner-friendly reflector boasting excellent views.
Celestron's powerful smart telescope has an upgrade. We got the chance to try out the brand new Mark II
A pricey but powerful smart scope that brings deep-sky targets alive instantly
A budget-friendly beginner telescope for photographing the night sky? We couldn't wait to try it out
Well-built and capable, this beginner scope punches well above its bargain price
Sky-Watcher's new budget telescope is a precision instrument for beginners. We got the chance to try it out
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
This is the comet everyone wants to see at the moment. One photographer captured it shedding its tail
José J. Chambó captured this image of Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) on 12 April 2026, a week before perihelion.
Gallery | Planes in front of the Sun and Moon
A gallery of images of planes passing in front of the solar or lunar disc.
Spectacular Earth from space. UK astronaut Tim Peake spent six months on the ISS and captured these amazing images
Some of the best images of Earth captured by UK astronaut Tim Peake during his time on the International Space Station.
How to photograph a conjunction of planets and the Moon
Read our beginner's guide and find out how to capture a beautiful astronomical conjunction with a smartphone or a camera.
How to photograph the Moon
How to take photos of the Moon: photograph a crescent, capture craters, what equipment you need, techniques, tips and photographing the Moon with a smartphone.
How to photograph an enormous Moon on the horizon
Astrophotography galleries
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 | Harvest Moon
What is a Harvest Moon, and and are they really worth the hype?
Gallery | Crescent Moon
A crescent Moon is a spectacular sight. Here are some of the top features to see on a waxing and waning crescent.
Eye On The Sky | 6 beautiful galaxy collisions seen by the Hubble Space Telescope
The study of galaxy collisions using the Hubble Space Telescope is revealing the secrets of star formation and galactic evolution.
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.
Spaceflight
A spacecraft saw comet 3I/ATLAS skim the Sun, and scientists say it could help save Earth from being hit by an asteroid
Studies of 3I/ATLAS by the ESA Juice mission show deep-space missions could be a vital defence tool for protecting Earth
Did these historic NASA spacecraft find life on Mars – and accidentally kill it?
The Viking landers may have found organic molecules, but accidentally destroyed them
They're coming home. How to watch the Artemis II crew's splashdown live as they return to Earth tonight
Watch live as the Artemis II crew come home
"Wanted to say a couple of things to my astro sister" The Artemis II crew just spoke to astronauts on board the Space Station
The Artemis II crew and the International Space Station astronauts held a brief call during which they spoke with one another.
The Artemis II crew saw a unique type of solar eclipse visible only to them – and Venus photobombed
The Artemis II astronauts photographed their very own solar eclipse
Artemis II astronauts capture beautiful 'Earthset' image from the far side of the Moon
An image of our planet setting behind the Moon, captured by the Artemis II crew
Artemis II | Images of Earth and the Moon captured during the mission
A selection of images of Earth and the Moon captured during Artemis II
They've done it. The Artemis II crew have travelled further into space than any human being before them
The four Artemis II astronauts have smashed the previous record held by Apollo13
DIY Astronomy
The best, safest ways to view a solar eclipse, from low-cost, simple options to expert astronomer techniques
What are the best and safest ways to view an eclipse?
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.
