Reviews
BBC Sky at Night Magazine reviews the latest telescopes, mounts, eyepieces, cameras, binoculars and other practical astronomy accessories.
Budget, easy-to-use and smartphone adaptor included. But is this Bresser kids' scope worth your money?
Black Friday 2023 | Best camera deals this year
A guide to the best Black Friday camera deals
Buyer's guide | Best budget telescopes
A good telescope needn't cost the Earth. It is possible to explore the heavens with an inexpensive telescope, provided it's well-made.
Masterclass: The planets in their prime
Join our Masterclass with Pete Lawrence, expert astro imager and presenter on BBC Four’s The Sky at Night at 7pm on 25 April 2024.
Save 20% when you buy all three as a series booking
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.
What's new?
Best binoculars for astronomy and stargazing, 2024
Binoculars are a great way of getting into astronomy and stargazing.
30 best telescopes for astrophotography, 2024
How to choose a telescope for photographing the night sky, and some of the best models available.
23 best telescopes for beginners 2024
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.
The Seestar S50 is among the cheapest smart telescopes available. But is it any good? We put it to the test
ZWO Seestar 50 smart telescope is an enjoyable budget all-in-one. But does it truly deliver on its do-it-all promises?
Best telescopes for observing planets, 2024
Looking for a telescope that will give you amazing views of the planets? We've put together a list of some of the best on the market.
Astronomy accessories
From telescope filters to smartphone astronomy apps, collimators and finderscopes: read our reviews of astronomy accessories by our expert testers..
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Buyer's guide | Red light torches
A good red torch is an astronomer's best friend, enabling you to find your way or check a star chart without ruining your night vision.
A guide to using multi-band filters for astrophotography
What multi-band filters are, how to use them, and 8 of the latest filters tried and tested.
Binoculars for astronomy
Often a pair of binoculars is the best instrument for observing the night sky. Read all our reviews of newest and best binoculars by our astronomy experts.
Black Friday 2023 | Best binocular deals this year
A look at the best deals on binoculars this Black Friday.
Celestron's popular SkyMaster Pro binoculars have been given an upgrade. We tested them to see how they perform
This popular big-magnification pair gets even better with a lens upgrade.
Best mounts and tripods for binoculars, 2024
Why use a binocular mount and telescope, and which are the best?
Cameras
Reviews of some of the newest and best cameras, including DSLR, CCD and CMOS, by our astronomy experts.
Altair's Hypercam 585C colour camera captures deep-sky, planets and the Moon, and all for under £500
From nebulae to the Moon, this jack-of-all-trades does it all for under £500.
Turbulence-busting, near-infrared capability. We tested the QHY5III200M camera on Jupiter and Uranus's moons
This fast planetary camera has bonus turbulence-busting near-infrared capability.
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.
Eyepieces
Are you on the hunt for a new eyepiece? Read our reviews of some of the newest and best telescope eyepieces by our astronomy experts.
'Budget price, but they punch well above their weight' We tested the Ursa Major multicoated eyepieces
The Masuyama 1.25-inch 53˚ eyepieces boast a premium price tag. Are they worth splashing out on?
Eight high-end eyepieces that open up heavenly views – for a premium price tag.
How to build the best telescope eyepiece collection
Great eyepieces are crucial to any astronomical setup. Our guide will arm you with the info you need to choose the best ones to invest in.
Finderscopes
Telescope finderscopes are a great way of locating celestial objects for a closer look. Read our reviews of the latest finderscopes.
Astronomy explained | Finderscopes
A finderscope is a simple but invaluable accessory that attaches to your telescope. Find out what they are, how to set one up, and whether they are still useful.
Orion Optics 8x50 straight-through finderscope review
An excellent field of view that's great for picking out deep-sky objects.
Skywatcher 9x50 Right-Angled Erecting Finderscope
The Skywatcher 9x50 Right-Angled Erecting Finderscope is a simple, easy to use, good quality finderscope that will compliment any telescope
Telescope mounts
The latest telescope mounts tried and tested by our team of practical astronomers to help you choose which best fits your observing setup.
ZWO AM5N harmonic drive mount and TC40 tripod
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.
Sky-Watcher's new Wi-Fi-controlled mount is beefy, smartphone-enabled and can be used anywhere in the world
Software
Computer software is a big part of modern astronomy and astrophotography. Read reviews of the latest astronomy software tried and tested by our experts.
First Light Optics Remote Observatory tried and tested
For a monthly fee, capture your astro images under immaculate dark skies
Serif Affinity Photo 2 image-editing software review
Well-priced image-editing software that features dedicated astrophotography tools.
Star-Hop Maker astronomy software review
Star-Hop Maker is suitable for all levels of experience, from beginners to seasoned observers.
Telescopes
Refractors, reflectors, Newtonians, Dobsonians, Schmidt-Cassegrains, Ritchey Chrétiens and Maksutov Cassegrains: the latest telescopes tried and tested by our team of experts.
Can a budget solar telescope be any good? We tested the Acuter Solarus 80 and its smartphone holder
Altair Starwave 70 EDQ-R quad apo imaging refractor review
The Altair Starwave 70 EDQ-R is a four-lensed, lightweight scope designed for easy, wide-field astro imaging
Best telescopes for viewing double stars
Discover the best telescopes for splitting tight doubles and resolving stellar pairs.