Astronomy

Find articles to help you learn astronomy and how to stargaze.

Astronomy equipment

Best Telescopes

Working out the right telescope for you can be hard. Check out our guys for different people below:

• Most Powerful Telescopes You Can Buy – Find the most powerful telescopes that you can buy off the shelf to use at home today
• Best Telescopes for Astrophotography – Find the best telescopes to enable you to photograph deep space.
• Best Telescopes for Beginners – Find the best telescopes and learn what different types there are and what the different specifications mean.
• Best Computerized Telescopes – Check out our recommendations for GoTo/computerized telescopes.
• Best Kids’ Telescopes – Find the right telescope for your child with this overview and recommendations.
• Best Intermediate Telescopes – Find recommended models for more ambitious stargazers.
• Best Portable & Travel Telescopes – We recommend the five best travel telescopes for different budgets
• Best 8-Inch Dobsonian Telescopes – Perfect for astronomy, find the best models available in 2023.

Telescope Model Reviews

• Celestron Nexstar: Which Model to Buy? – Comparing the SE, SLT, and Evolution ranges
• Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8 vs 8 HD vs 8SE – What is the best 8-inch Celestron telescope?
• Celestron StarSense Explorer Telescopes: Which Model is Best for You? – Comparing the eight different StarSense Explorer telescope models.
• Best Smart Telescopes (Stellina vs eVscope 2 vs eQuinox vs Vespera) – check out our overview of these smart hybrid telescopes that have cameras built-in.

Understanding Telescopes & Accessories

• 14 Different Types of Telescope Mounts Explained – Learn about all the different mount types and what’s best for astronomy, from Alt-Az to EQ, Harmonic to Direct Drive.
• Altazimuth vs Equatorial Mounts – Understand the pros and cons of the two most common mount types – AZ & EQ
• What is a Harmonic Drive Telescope Mount? – Harmonic mounts are small, light, and disrupting the market.
• What Are Telescope Mount Encoders (and Which Models Have Them)? – What does it mean when a mount says it has encoders?
• What is a GOTO Telescope? – What does “GOTO” mean and is it right for you?
• How Much Does a Good Telescope Cost? – See our guide to help you understand how much you need to spend on a telescope and what you get for your money
• What is Telescope Aperture? – What is aperture and what do you need in a telescope
• Is Higher Aperture Better? – Aperture is a term used differently for telescopes and camera lenses, but is higher always better?
• Why Are Telescopes So Expensive? – The key reasons why telescopes are not cheap, what factors increase the price, and why you get what you pay for.
• Reflector vs Refractor Telescopes – What the different types mean for a telescope buyer.
• Maksutov-Cassegrain vs Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes – Examining the advantages and disadvantages of these popular designs to help you decide what is right for you.
• What Telescope Brands are Reputable (and Which to Avoid)? – Is the manufacturer important when buying a telescope?
• Best Barlow Lenses for Telescopes – Increase the magnification of your telescope with these budget components to compliment your eyepieces

Astronomy Binoculars, Spotting Scopes and Monoculars

Astronomy binoculars are a great tool to have for quick and easy stargazing:

• Best Astronomy Binoculars – check out the best binoculars for stargazing.
  • Celestron SkyMaster 20×80 Binoculars – read our hands-on review of these great astronomy binoculars
• Best Tripod for Astronomy Binoculars – Larger astronomy binoculars need to be used with a tripod. Check out the best options available, including the best budget and lightweight options, and the best for heavy binoculars.
• Best Monoculars for Stargazing – We recommend the five best monoculars for stargazing & astrophotography for different budgets and explain what to look for when buying.
• Best Spotting Scopes for Astronomy – In this article, we have researched the best spotting scopes and outlined the pros and cons of using them versus telescopes, binoculars, and monoculars.
• Spotting Scopes vs Telescopes for Astronomy – What are the differences and what is best for astronomy?
• Spotting Scopes vs Binoculars for Astronomy – See the pros and cons of spotting scopes vs binoculars to help you decide what’s right for you.
• Spotting Scopes vs Monoculars for Astronomy – Find out what’s best for astronomy and stargazing
• Monoculars vs Binoculars for Astronomy – Binoculars and monoculars can both be used for astronomy and stargazing but what are the differences and what is best?
• Monocular vs Telescope: What are the Differences? – Understand the differences between telescopes and monoculars and identify what each is best for.
• Binoculars vs Telescopes for Astronomy – Can binoculars be as good as telescopes for astronomy?

Learn Astronomy

Guides to help you learn astronomy and stargazing:

• What’s in the Sky Tonight from My Location? – 7 best tools to use to work out what is visible for you from any time and location
• Night Vision Astronomy – Read our beginners’ guide to night vision astronomy and astrophotography
• Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) – Introduction to EAA and how it differs from regular astronomy.
• Astronomy for Beginners – step-by-step guide to stargazing as a hobby.
• Light Pollution and Astronomy – understand how light pollution affects astronomy and what you can do about it.
• Best Astronomy Books – learn about space and astronomy with these selected books.
• Best Astronomy and Space Calendars – the best space-themed wall calendars.
• Astronomical Events – find out what to view in the night sky month-by-month this year.
• Instagram Astronomy – 22 great astrophotographers you should follow

Space Facts

Some fun, in-depth articles investigating the big questions about space and our universe:

• How many planets are there in the universe? – Learn the jaw-dropping answer to the question ‘How many planets are there?’. Covering our Solar System, galaxy, and whole universe.
• How many habitable planets are there? – Find out how many potentially habitable planets have been discovered, and how many are estimated beyond that.
• What is the largest star in the universe? – UY Scuti and VY Canis Majoris are two super giant stars that reside in our Milky Way. But what is the largest star in the universe?
• 50 Famous Astronomers You Should Know – See our list of the most influential people in the history of astronomy
• The Ultimate Guide to Terraforming Planets – Can we terraform the Moon, Mars or other Exoplanets to make them habitable for human life?