Pete Lawrence
Astronomer and presenter
Pete Lawrence is an experienced astronomer and astrophotographer, and a presenter on BBC's The Sky at Night.
Recent articles by Pete Lawrence
The Sun's activity is increasing. Record the path to solar maximum with our guide on how to photograph sunspots
Get out your telescope tonight and explore the Leo constellation with these 6 beautiful galaxies
From a cosmic sombrero to colliding galaxies, 6 of the best deep-sky objects to see in the Crow and the Cup
How many deep-sky objects can you find in Corvus and Crater?
4-billion-year-old Rupes Altai is the most prominent lunar escarpment visible from Earth. Here's how to see it.
Rugged, steep, crater-strewn Rupes Altai is a particularly striking sight when the light is coming from the west.
See the slender crescent Moon and Jupiter this week, an elegant meeting in the sky just after sunset
See a thin crescent Moon on the evening of 8 May starting from sunset.
M13, the Great Globular star cluster in Hercules, hides a secret. Can you spot its propeller?
Eta Aquariids 2024 | See this year's meteor shower
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2023 peaks on the evening of 6/7 May, but a full Moon will hamper the view.
Pherkad is a giant star 15 times bigger than our Sun that never sets. Find out how to see it in the Little Bear.
How to find the circumpolar star in Ursa Minor.
See Asteroid Pallas at opposition
Small scopes can easily track 2 Pallas as it arcs beneath the Keystone all month.
Stargazing | What to see in the night sky this month
What can you see in the night sky tonight? Find out what's on view in our monthly stargazing guide.
Visible planets in May 2024
Saturn and Mars are your best bets this month.
Planet heaven is coming later in 2024. This month can you spot Saturn and Mars beside a thin crescent Moon?
See Saturn and Mars next to the Moon this month.
Meteor showers | When the next one is, and how to see it
Find out whether there is a meteor shower occurring above the UK tonight, when the next one is, and how to see a meteor for yourself.
Create a composite astrophoto showing a night-sky object in motion
Capture the movement of a planet or other object over multiple nights by creating a composite astrophoto that tracks a celestial target across the night sky.
See the lunar occultation of globular cluster M4, 23/24 May
See this star cluster disappear behind the Moon.
Observing guide | Earthshine: what it is and how to see it
How to spot earthshine, when light reflected off Earth lights up the Moon’s dark side.
Devil Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks approaches Jupiter over the coming evenings. This is how to see it
Comet 12P/Pons–Brooks could approach naked-eye in March, as it tracks from Andromeda to Pisces.
How to see today's April 8 solar eclipse from the UK and Ireland
Going to miss the April solar eclipse in the US? If you're in western UK and Ireland, you'll get to see a partial.
How to photograph the April 8 eclipse from the UK and Ireland
How to photograph the April 8 total solar eclipse
April 8 eclipse | Find out where you can see the eclipse
All you need to know about where the April total solar eclipse will be visible.
The most distant object you can see with a telescope? Quasars are a good bet. Here's how to see one.
Want to see the most distant object visible with your telescope? A quasar could be your best bet.
Thuban, the star that was once Earth's North Star
Thuban was once the North Star, but is no longer. For the time being, anyway.
See star 24 Comae Berenices, spring's hidden treasure
Can you spot this springtime double star?