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.
How to see the Eta Aquariid meteor shower in 2020
Early May brings the opportunity to see the Eta Aquarids, a shower of shooting stars made up of meteor dust left by Halley’s Comet.
How to watch the Lyrid meteor shower in 2020
The first major display of shooting stars in more than three months has begun with the return of the April Lyrid meteor shower. Here is how to watch the Lyrids.
Brightening comet’s nucleus has broken into fragments
A comet is currently brightening faster than expected, giving hope that it will become a prominent object visible with the unaided eye in May.
How to plan a trip to see the aurora on a budget
Holidays to see the aurora, or northern or southern lights, are increasingly popular. Here is how to travel to see the aurora on a budget.
How to view the Quadrantid meteor shower in 2020
The first week of the New Year brings us one of the most promising meteor showers for 2020, the Quadrantids. Here is how to see them.
How to view the Ursid meteor shower in 2019
Conditions are good in 2019 for the annual display of a minor meteor shower called the Ursids. Here is how to see them.