The truth about this month’s supermoon and what you will see
This month’s “supermoon” has provoked a lot of comment in the popular media. Here’s the truth about what it all actually means!
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.
Bright nova flares in the constellation of Hercules
A new star, or nova, has appeared in the constellation on Hercules that was not previously visible.
How to see the solar eclipse in June 2021
There’s a solar eclipse coming on 10 June when the Moon passes directly between Earth and the Sun. It will be a so-called annular eclipse because the Moon will be near the most distant part of its orbit, and so not big enough to cover the Sun’s disk completely.
What’s that bright ‘star’ in the evening sky?
Venus is now shining as a brilliant evening star, and will become difficult to miss in the twilight after sunset.
How to see the Eta Aquariids meteor shower in 2021
Early May brings the opportunity to see the Eta Aquariids, a shower of shooting stars made up of meteor dust left by Halley’s Comet.
See Mercury make its best appearance in the evening sky of 2021
Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun, is starting to make its best appearance in the evening sky for observers at northern latitudes.
How to watch the Lyrid meteor shower in 2021
The first major display of shooting stars in more than three months occurs in April – the Lyrid meteor shower. Here is how to watch the Lyrids.
Sporadic meteors – the remains of long-dead comets
Meteors are sometimes seen which cannot be identified with a known shower. They are known as sporadic meteors, or simply sporadics.
Watch Mars slide with ease between the Pleiades and Hyades
Mars, the only bright planet currently in the evening sky, can be seen passing between two prominent star clusters during March, 2021. They are the Pleiades and the Hyades, in the constellation of Taurus.
How to see elusive Mercury for yourself
Mercury is easy to see if you know when and where to look. All you need is a clear sky and an unobstructed horizon. Here is our guide to observing Mercury.
How to see asteroid Vesta shining at its brightest in 2021
The brightest asteroid, Vesta, is beginning to put on a show in the night sky. You can easily see Vesta for yourself with binoculars, or take a photo with a digital camera. Here’s how to see asteroid Vesta.