Pete Lawrence
Astronomer and presenter
Pete Lawrence is an experienced astronomer and astrophotographer, and a presenter on BBC's The Sky at Night.
Recent articles by Pete Lawrence
Eta Aquariids 2024 | See this year's meteor shower
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2023 peaks on the evening of 6/7 May, but a full Moon will hamper the view.
Pherkad is a giant star 15 times bigger than our Sun that never sets. Find out how to see it in the Little Bear.
How to find the circumpolar star in Ursa Minor.
May is the month for thin Moon hunting. See the slender crescent meet Jupiter over the coming week
See a thin crescent Moon on the evening of 8 May starting from sunset.
See Asteroid Pallas at opposition
Small scopes can easily track 2 Pallas as it arcs beneath the Keystone all month.
Stargazing | What to see in the night sky this month
What can you see in the night sky tonight? Find out what's on view in our monthly stargazing guide.
Visible planets in May 2024
Saturn and Mars are your best bets this month.
Planet heaven is coming later in 2024. This month can you spot Saturn and Mars beside a thin crescent Moon?
See Saturn and Mars next to the Moon this month.
Meteor showers | When the next one is, and how to see it
Find out whether there is a meteor shower occurring above the UK tonight, when the next one is, and how to see a meteor for yourself.
Create a composite astrophoto showing a night-sky object in motion
Capture the movement of a planet or other object over multiple nights by creating a composite astrophoto that tracks a celestial target across the night sky.
See the lunar occultation of globular cluster M4, 23/24 May
See this star cluster disappear behind the Moon.
Observing guide | Earthshine: what it is and how to see it
How to spot earthshine, when light reflected off Earth lights up the Moon’s dark side.
Devil Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks approaches Jupiter over the coming evenings. This is how to see it
Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks could approach naked-eye in March, as it tracks from Andromeda to Pisces.
How to see today's April 8 solar eclipse from the UK and Ireland
Going to miss the April solar eclipse in the US? If you're in western UK and Ireland, you'll get to see a partial.
How to photograph the April 8 eclipse from the UK and Ireland
How to photograph the April 8 total solar eclipse
April 8 eclipse | Find out where you can see the eclipse
All you need to know about where the April total solar eclipse will be visible.
The most distant object you can see with a telescope? Quasars are a good bet. Here's how to see one.
Want to see the most distant object visible with your telescope? A quasar could be your best bet.
Thuban, the star that was once Earth's North Star
Thuban was once the North Star, but is no longer. For the time being, anyway.
See star 24 Comae Berenices, spring's hidden treasure
Can you spot this springtime double star?
Visible planets in the night sky, April 2024
Mercury returns to evening skies in April 2023, making it a planet to keep an eye on this month. Find out which dates are best for observing Mercury.
Catch Jupiter and Uranus in April while you can! The giant planets fade from our evening sky this month
How to safely observe the Sun
Have you ever wanted to safely look at the Sun and spot its dynamic features? Read our guide to find out how.
How to do astrophotography and photograph the night sky with your smartphone
You can use your iPhone, Android or other smartphone to take pictures of stars and other astronomical phenomena. In this guide we'll show you how.
See a crescent Moon meet Jupiter and the beautiful blue Pleiades star cluster this week
The waxing crescent Moon creates a stunning scene with Jupiter, the Pleiades and Hyades open clusters this week.