New evidence for cloud-based life on Venus
Astronomers have discovered intriguing evidence for life on Venus, the planet dubbed Earth’s evil twin.
Wonderful Mira heads for maximum brightness
One of the most interesting variable stars, Mira, is becoming bright and easy to see in the evening sky.
What to see in the night sky in September 2020
Here’s our guide to planets and other phenomena you can see in the night sky this month with just your eyes, binoculars, or a small telescope.
How to observe Algol, the ‘demon star’
Algol, the “demon star” is a fascinating variable star, whose brightness changes are easy to follow with the naked eye.
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 2020
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 2020.
Bright comet moves into the evening sky
The brightest comet for many years is now showing best in the evening sky, to the delight of amateur astronomers, and is visible all night from mid-northern latitudes.
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.
Watch out for summer’s night-shining clouds
Noctilucent clouds are a beautiful sight. They lie on the edge of space and have an astronomical origin.
What’s that bright ‘star’ in the morning sky?
Venus is now shining as a brilliant morning star, and impossible to miss in the twilight before sunrise.
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.
Bright Comet Swan glides across the sky
Comet Swan, which was discovered just a few weeks ago, looks set to become a bright object towards the end of May.