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.
Phases of the Moon: all eight in order, including gibbous
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, with a trick to remember
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.
Halley’s Comet: the 1986 visit and the 2061 return
A comet on an average 76-year orbit, last returned in 1986 and due back in 2061, with two meteor showers from its debris each year.
How long does it take to get to the Moon?
Apollo reached the Moon in days; SMART-1 took around 13 months to enter lunar orbit. Compare recorded journeys and the endpoints behind each duration.
Jupiter’s moons: the four you can observe, and 111 more
Four moons Galileo found in 1610, and a hundred and eleven more since. What each of the big ones is, and how to see them yourself.
Alignment of planets: what lines up in the night sky
Several planets can appear near the same arc in our sky. A planet parade, a conjunction and an opposition describe different arrangements.
Planet rings: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune have them
All four giant planets have rings. Saturn's contain mainly water ice; their structure is well observed, while their age and remaining lifetime depend on models.
Next solar eclipse in the UK
Every solar eclipse visible from the UK to 2030, how much of the Sun each covers, and how to watch safely.
Stars & deep space
Names, patterns and distant objects, with the difference between observations and illustrations made clear.
Star names: the brightest stars and what their names mean
Why stars have proper names, who approves them, the named stars of Orion and the other bright ones - plus what a nebula 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.
Nebula meaning: what a nebula is
Emission, reflection, dark and planetary nebulae: what they are, how they differ, and the famous ones you can hang on a wall.
Pale Blue Dot Image: Voyager 1's Photograph of Earth
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.
The North Star: how to find Polaris from Britain
What the north star is, how to find Polaris from a British garden, and why the pole star changes over thousands of years.
Ophiuchus constellation: the one left out
A real constellation the Sun crosses every year, left out of the zodiac because twelve divided more neatly.
Orion's Belt: how to find Orion in the UK winter sky
Three stars in a row, a red supergiant, a blue supergiant and a stellar nursery you can see with the naked eye.
The Plough constellation that is not a constellation
Seven stars, visible from Britain every night of the year, inside a constellation most people never see the rest of.
The zodiac constellations and the real sky
Thirteen constellations, twelve signs, and three thousand years of drift between them.
How to find the Summer Triangle
Three bright stars make a useful doorway into the summer and autumn sky. Find the triangle, then the smaller patterns around its corners.
The life cycle of a star: two different endings
Stars share a beginning, but their starting mass changes how fast they live and what survives. Follow two example paths without treating them as a universal…
What shape are stars?
Stars are round. The points come from eyes, air and cameras.
Zodiac elements: fire, earth, air and water signs
The four zodiac elements, which signs belong to each, and the constellations behind them.
January zodiac sign: Capricorn and Aquarius dates
The two January star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
February zodiac sign: Aquarius and Pisces
The two February star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
March zodiac sign: Pisces and Aries
The two March star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
April zodiac sign: Aries and Taurus
The two April star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
May zodiac sign: Taurus and Gemini
The two May star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
June zodiac sign: Gemini and Cancer
The two June star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
July zodiac sign: Cancer and Leo
The two July star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
August zodiac sign: Leo and Virgo
The two August star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
September zodiac sign: Virgo and Libra
The two September star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
October zodiac sign: Libra and Scorpio
The two October star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
November zodiac sign: Scorpio and Sagittarius dates
The two November star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
December zodiac sign: Sagittarius and Capricorn dates
The two December star signs, their dates, and where the Sun really is that month.
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.
Is the Moon phase chart accurate? A plain check
What a moon phase print is, how to check the phases are in the right order, what sizes and framing cost in the UK - and the one test to do before you buy.
Star map gift: print the sky from the night that mattered
What a personalised star map shows, why the date, time and place change the stars, and how to choose the right moment: a plain-English guide.
Name a star or give a star map? What each gift means
The difference between a symbolic star name and a sky chart calculated for a meaningful place and time.
The best gifts for astronomers and space lovers
Choose by their experience, favourite subject and the occasion: practical observing ideas, decorative astronomy prints and a map of a meaningful moment.
The night sky on the day you were born
What you need to see the sky on a birth date, and what it will show.
How accurate is a star map?
What makes a star map accurate, and what the number of stars does and does not tell you.
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?
Work out print resolution from your photo’s pixels and the size you choose. Understand the 140/300 dpi grades and check the original image for blur.
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 art in a painted style
The easiest way to turn a photo into art in a painted style: upload, pick a style, preview it free before ordering, and print it if you love it.
How to turn a photo into line art
Make an AI interpretation of your photo in the Line Art style. Review a free watermarked preview, then choose an eligible print or digital download.
Calendars and sky references
Planning a night outside? The UK full Moon calendar gives dated lunar events and a downloadable 2027 planner. The UK meteor shower guide pairs peak dates with observing context and explains what a shooting star is.
For the names on a star chart, read zodiac signs and constellations: familiar astrological signs and the astronomical regions used to describe the sky answer different questions.