See bright Mercury shine before dawn
The last week of October and first days of November, 2021, offer a splendid chance for northern hemisphere stargazers to spot the planet Mercury in the morning sky.
How to see the moons of Jupiter in a telescope or binoculars
The four largest moons of Jupiter, Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto, are easy to see with binoculars or a small telescope. Here is our guide.
How to see the Orionid meteor shower in 2021
The Orionid meteor shower is now active as the Earth passes through a stream of dust shed by Halley’s Comet. Here is how to see it.
What to see in the night sky in October 2021
Here’s our monthly guide to planets and stars you can see in the night sky, with just your eyes, binoculars, or a small telescope.
Brilliant flash on Jupiter as asteroid strikes
A brilliant flash was observed this week in the atmosphere of giant planet Jupiter, believed to be due to an … Continue reading
What’s that bright star near the Moon?
The Moon sometimes appears close to a particularly bright star or planet in the sky. Here is a list of upcoming line-ups.
Find dwarf planet Ceres easily with binoculars
Dwarf planet Ceres is currently brightening. You can find it easily with binoculars as it crosses a famous star cluster. Here’s how to find Ceres.
See asteroid Pallas in the evening sky
Pallas, one of the brightest asteroids, and the second asteroid to be discovered, comes to opposition in September. Here’s how to find it for yourself.
How to photograph a meteor shower
When a good meteor shower is active, you could capture yourself some “shooting stars” with an ordinary camera, as long as it can take time exposures. Here is our guide to get you started.
How to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2021
Amateur astronomers are looking forward to the return of one of the year’s strongest and most reliable meteor showers. Here is your hype-free guide on how to see the Perseid meteor shower in 2021.
Wonderful Mira heads for maximum brightness
One of the most interesting variable stars, Mira, is becoming bright and easy to see in the morning sky. It will reach maximum brightness next month.
How to observe variable stars
Many stars in the sky change brightness. They are known as variable stars. Here is how to observe them.