The observatory
The observatory journal
Start with a question about the sky, explore the objects beyond it, or find practical help choosing and printing your own artwork.
Moon, planets & aurora
Understand the changing Moon, our solar neighbourhood and the lights in Earth's sky.
The 8 Phases of the Moon, Explained
New, waxing, full, waning: the eight phases of the lunar cycle in plain English, why the sequence works laid out in a row on a wall, and the craters you can…
Planets in Order From the Sun
The eight planets in order from the Sun, with real sizes and distances from NASA's own figures - and why most wall art of the solar system gets the scale wrong.
What causes the northern lights?
How charged particles and Earth's upper atmosphere produce the northern lights, and why their colours differ.
Stars & deep space
Names, patterns and distant objects, with the difference between observations and illustrations made clear.
Star Names and the Constellations
Why stars have proper names, who approves them, the named stars of Orion and the other bright ones - plus what a nebula actually is, in plain English.
What Is a Constellation? The 88 Patterns, Explained
A constellation is a star pattern and a defined area of sky. What the 88 official constellations are, who sets them, and how to spot them from the UK.
What Is a Nebula? The Main Types, Explained
Emission, reflection, dark and planetary nebulae: what they are, how they differ, and the famous ones you can hang on a wall.
What Is the Pale Blue Dot?
The photograph Voyager 1 took of Earth from six billion kilometres out: what it shows, why Carl Sagan asked for it, and what it means.
Choosing astronomy art
If you want a piece for your wall or a gift, compare the subject, the occasion and what the artwork represents.
A Beginner's Guide to Astronomy Art
Nebulae, galaxies, blueprints and retro travel posters: the main genres of astronomy art, and how to choose prints that work together on a wall.
Moon Phase Prints, Honestly
What a moon phase print is, how to check the sequence is astronomically right, what sizes and framing cost in the UK - and the one honest test before you buy.
Personalised Star Maps: What They Show & How to Choose the Moment
What a personalised star map actually shows, why the date, time and place change the stars, and how to choose the right moment: a plain-English guide.
The Best Gifts for Astronomers & Space Lovers
A gift guide for the stargazer in your life: matched to what they actually love about the sky, from lunar charts to personalised photo art.
Printing your pictures
Check image quality, compare formats and decide whether to keep your original photograph or change its style.
What DPI Do You Need to Print a Photo?
How big can you print your photo? A plain-English guide to DPI, megapixels and print sizes: and why we block sizes that would look soft.
Canvas vs Framed Print vs Poster: How to Choose
Canvas, framed print or poster? A plain guide to glare, longevity, paper weight, cost and size: and which suits a gift, a statement wall or a budget.
Photo to Canvas: The Complete Guide
Everything about turning your photo into a canvas print in the UK: sizes, resolution, frames, cost and how to get it sharp.
Turn a Photo Into Wall Art: 4 Styles Compared
Post-impressionist night, nebula watercolour, retro sci-fi or blueprint? A side-by-side look at four ways to turn a photo into art for your wall.
How to Turn a Photo Into a Painting
The easiest way to turn a photo into a painting: upload, pick a style, preview it free before ordering, and print it gallery-grade if you love it.
How to Turn a Photo Into Line Art
Turn a photo into clean single-line art or a line drawing: upload, pick the Line Art style, preview free, and print it gallery-grade.