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
Gallery | Uranus
A guide to the icy ringed giant
In pictures – the stunning Blue Moon 2026 captured by photographers from around the world
Pictures of the 31st May 2026 full Moon – known as a Blue Moon – captured by photographers from across the globe
How to photograph the Moon with a smartphone
Tips and tricks to help you succeed in lunar astrophotography using a smartphone.
How to photograph an enormous Moon on the horizon
How to capture the Moon illusion
How to photograph and record the motion of noctilucent clouds
Capture the movement, structure and colours of summer’s night-shining clouds in our astrophotography guide.
The spectacular Venus, Jupiter and crescent Moon alignment this week, in images from around the world
Images of the crescent Moon's meeting with Venus and Jupiter
Astrophotography galleries
Gallery | Planes in front of the Sun and Moon
A gallery of images of planes passing in front of the solar or lunar disc.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft's best images of Saturn and its moons
The NASA Cassini mission captured beautiful images of Saturn, its rings and its moons.
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.
Spaceflight
Clear skies on Mars – NASA rover captures one of the sharpest panoramas of the Red Planet ever taken
Region could be some of oldest terrain the rover has ever explored
This is the radical new rocket tech that will put the whole Solar System within humanity's reach
A hundred years on since the first liquid-fuelled rocket, more advanced propulsion systems are on the drawing board to take us further into space than we’ve ever been
Blue Origin rocket explodes during test
On 28 May 2026, a New Glenn rocket built by Blue Origin exploded on its launchpad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA
A Moon base, Moon buggies, hopping rovers... NASA just revealed a stack of ambitious plans to send astronauts and spacecraft to the Moon
NASA reveals plans to build a Moon base and send rovers and drones to survey the lunar South Pole for future Artemis missions
China launches astronauts on a year-long mission. The new Moon race just took a huge leap forward
China eyes Moon with new launch. Latest mission includes a planned year-long stay in orbit and dozens of scientific experiments
A NASA satellite used the full Moon to fine-tune its instruments – and accidentally created a beautiful piece of modern art
A view of the full Moon of January 2026 – the Wolf Moon – captured by the Landsat 9 satellite as part of instrument calibration
NASA's Voyager 1 probe is about to reach a distance of 1 light-day from Earth. Here's why this cosmic milestone is so huge
Voyager 1 is about to reach a huge milestone
Amazing new images of Mars captured by a spacecraft zooming past on its way to the asteroid belt
Beautiful images of the Red Planet captured by a spacecraft on its way to the asteroid belt
DIY Astronomy
Dirty binoculars? Simple hacks to clean them and get them back to giving you tip-top views
There’s more to keeping delicate optical devices clean than spit and polish. Find out how to keep your binoculars clean with our DIY guide.
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.
