THE BIG THREE

The top sights to observe or image this month

The remains of CREATION UNDERSTANDING THE CMB

Left over from the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background gives astronomers an insight into the entire history of our Universe. Ezzy Pearson explains

A December GRAND TOUR

Just like the epic journeys of the Voyager probes to our Solar System's outer planets, this tour takes you to the gas and ice giants as they line up in the night sky this month. Stuart Atkinson is your guide

Same stars, different stories

Maggie Aderin-Pocock considers how other cultures interpret the night sky

INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT

Host of science podcast The Infinite Monkey Cage Robin Ince joined his co-host Brian Cox on the November episode of The Sky at Night

Swirling supernova's secret sibling

A companion could be responsible for Puppis A's overlapping rings

No call for sea legs on Titan

Expect to find gentle breezes and calm seas on Saturn's largest moon

Plans for an all-UK space mission set in motion

Four British astronauts could soon be heading into orbit

Rare cosmic explosion deepens a mystery

One of the Universe's brightest outbursts seen in an unexpected location

THREE'S COMPANY

Galaxy pair Arp-Madore 2339-661 is actually a galaxy trio

When it comes to lighting, less is more

Patricia Yanez on designing considerate lighting for a luxury Red Sea resort

Early Universe seen running slow

Cosmic clocks appear to run slower soon after the Big Bang, just as Einstein predicted

Mastering flats

Adding DSLR flat frames to your workflow to improve your deep-sky images

Make a Solar System diorama

An easy, fun craft project to learn about our neighbouring planets

Star-hopping

Steve Tonkin explains an easy technique to navigate your way around the night sky

The rock hunter RETURNS

As OSIRIS-REx becomes the latest spacecraft to bring back samples from another world, Ezzy Pearson examines how these missions help reveal our Solar System's history

Lights in the darkness Photographing the aurora

Wilderness photographer Valtteri Hirvonen - who spends nearly half the year in darkness in his native Finland - reveals how he found new inspiration in the Northern Lights

Capturing a first: the Spin Nebula

Amateur astronomers work collaboratively to produce first high-resolution image of little-known nebula He 2-11

10 targets to get you started in astrophotography

From star trails to your first planets, Tom Kerss shares 10 inspiring projects to kick off your night photography journey

Highlights of the autumn skies

From returning favourites to unmissable one-off events, Katrin Raynor picks out the best night-sky sights coming up in the months ahead

Askar 130PHQ flatfield apo refractor

If you've got the budget, this hefty refractor's got fine views and a deluxe feel

Create your best image of Saturn

Great pictures of the ringed planet start as video, before stacking and processing

Image a fisheye Milky Way

Ultra-wide-angle lenses capture our Galaxy crossing the whole sky. Here's what to consider

Wild weather across the Solar System

Katrin Raynor looks at the extreme climates found on our neighbouring planets

The mystery of SOLAR MAXIMUM

The Sun has been increasingly active over the last few years, far more so than astronomers predicted. Ezzy Pearson investigates

10 locations to make you fall in love with the Moon again

Rekindle your passion for the Moon with Stuart Atkinson's pick of the best lesser-known lunar locations you'll love

THE BIG THREE

The top sights to observe or image this month

The great American eclipses

In a once-in-a-lifetime spectacle, two solar eclipses are about to cross over the USA. Jamie Carter has the details

Catch Saturn's ring before they disappear

Jane Clark explains the gear, software and techniques beginners need to capture Saturn on camera before its famous rings vanish from view

See the Perseids in their prime

With no bright moonlight to spoil things, 2023 could be a vintage year for summer's strongest meteor shower. Paul G Abel tells us how to make the most of the Perseids