Stuart Atkinson
Astronomy writer
Stuart Atkinson is a lifelong amateur astronomer and an author of popular astronomy books.
Recent articles by Stuart Atkinson
Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) latest news and predictions
Could Comet A3 become another Great Comet, or even simply reach naked-eye brightness? We'll find out soon...
Comet C/2023 A3 | Beginner's guide
Long-period comets
Strangest things in our Solar System
How to do astrophotography with a DSLR camera
Own a DSLR camera and want to capture the stars? Find out how in our guide to DSLR astrophotography.
Is comet C/2023 A3 doomed?
Noctilucent clouds | What they are and how to see them
High altitude clouds on the edge of space, noctilucent clouds or NLCs are a delight for summer stargazers.
10 night-sky targets to spot in the beautiful Summer Triangle star patter
A list of the many deep-sky delights waiting to be discovered in one of summer’s most familiar star patterns.
Deep-sky tour | 6 galaxies to spot in the Leo constellation
Celebrate Leo's favourable position in our springtime night skies by getting out your telescope and taking our galactic tour of the constellation.
Track activity on the surface of the Sun with our guide on how to safely observe sunspots
Monitor the progress of sunspot activity on the surface of our host star.
On Friday night the sky danced, and we'll be talking about it for years to come. The great aurora of 10 May 2024
Follow the arc to Arcturus, an oft-overlooked star that's a gateway to some of the most exciting night-sky targets
I've been out photographing Comet C/2023 A3, which could be naked-eye come autumn. This is what I found
Stuart Atkinson has braved chilly April nights to capture images of Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS).
A guide to Ursa Minor, the Little Dipper constellation that contains one of the most important stars in the sky
Ursa Major is the Little Dipper constellation that contains the North Star, Polaris.
When we look at the night sky, we're looking back in time. This is how far back we can see
The time it takes for light from objects in space to reach Earth means that when we look at planets, stars and galaxies, we're actually peering back in time.
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks will fade as April draws to a close. But not before meeting Jupiter and the eclipse
Devil Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks' Grand Finale will be an appearance during the April 8 eclipse
Observers of the April 8 solar eclipse could be in for a treat in the shape of a bright comet next to the eclipsed Sun.
Galaxy Season | 19 galaxies to observe during spring
Springtime is galaxy season for astronomers. Find out why it's such a good time of year for galaxy hunting, and the best deep-sky targets.
Love to see the night sky on Mars? This is what it would be like to stargaze on the Red Planet
Ever wondered what it would be like to see the Sun or the stars from Mars? Read our guide to find out what sights await future Martian astronomers.
Want to learn how to stargaze? Here's how to get started in 12 easy steps
Stargazing is easy: you just have to look up! But getting started can be daunting for some. Read our top tips for spending your first night under the stars.
A guide to circumpolar constellations
The apparent movement of the stars around the celestial pole can be seen in long-exposure images called star trails. Credit: Matt Gibson / Getty Images
Christmas Astronomy | What's in the night sky on 25 December
Got a new telescope for Christmas? Here's what you can see in the night sky on 25 December 2023.
22 beautiful December night sky targets
December is a wonderful time to observe the night sky. Follow our astronomy advent calendar with 25 targets to see this month.
9 lesser known astronomy and astrophotography targets you might not have seen before
Track down these more obscure astronomy targets you may not have seen or imaged before.