Amateur Astronomy

The Southern Beehive — or NGC 2516 — seen in a new image from The Cosmic Companion, created with Telescope Live! — Nearly 1,300 light years from Earth, in the southern constellation of Carina, the open star cluster NGC 2516 shines from the light of thousands of stars. Stars forming a halo around this body stretch 1,600 light years from side to side. …

Amateur astronomy is entering a new golden age — armchair astronomy. Here is a look at how you can see the Cosmos without leaving home. — This week on The Cosmic Companion, we look at doing Astronomy from Home. We’ll be talking with Alex Curry, one of the co-founders of Telescope Live. We will discuss amateur astronomy in the modern age — from the comforts of home. There was a time, not long ago, when most…

Consider yourself very special and unique, the odds against you being here are astronomical and very close to zero British spelling. If you are an expert on the workings of the Universe and life then go no further, for everyone else this introduction should be of interest to you. Please…

Professional astronomy images are the gold standard. But this Large Magellanic Cloud composite is the amateur community’s best image ever. — The Universe is full of astronomical wonders, but it’s up to humanity to observe and analyze them.

Three planets line up in the southwestern sky on Friday night, together with the Moon. Here’s a look at what’s happening! — Early in the evening on Friday 10 December, three planets — Venus, Jupiter and Saturn, will line up in the southwestern sky, along with the Moon. Skygazers wishing to view this celestial alignment should head out soon after sunset, before Venus dips below the horizon. Looking to the southwest…

The Geminid meteor shower is coming 13 December, and planets are lining up — literally — for this magnificent display! — The Geminid meteor shower will be visible on the night of 13 December, providing skygazers a chance to witness one of the year’s most dazzling displays of shooting stars. In addition, this performance will be joined by dazzling contributions from a trio of planets. Through most of the month…

Are you someone who has given little thought as to what lies out there in that gargantuan area we call space? Do you question your existence? British spelling. I doubt very much if the human race will ever be able to leave our local area in space and reach for…

Seeing Uranus in November offers amateur astronomers a chance to view this planet as it reaches its brightest. Five planets were known to ancient people — Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn danced in the night sky against the backdrop of “stationary” stars. …