Astronomy FAQs
Astronomy FAQs
General astronomy | Buying and equipment | Comets, meteors and asteroids | Observing and sightings | Solar system, planets, the Sun | Stars, galaxies, the universe | Space exploration | Astronomical photography | New discoveries and theories
General astronomy
- How can I find out more about astronomy or join a local club?
- How do I become an astronomer? What do astronomers do?
- Who is the current Astronomer Royal?
Buying and equipment
- How can I buy a star name? Can I view a star I've named?
- Where can I buy a meteorite?
- Where can I buy a planisphere, orrery, planetarium etc?
- I’d like to buy a telescope / How do I use my telescope?
Comets, meteors and asteroids
- I think I've found a meteorite.
- Which comets will be visible this year? Which were visible in history?
- Will an asteroid hit the Earth?
- I think I’ve discovered a new planet, comet or asteroid.
Observing and sightings
- Did I see / where can I see the northern lights?
- I think I saw a meteor in the sky last night. Can you confirm?
- I think I saw a satellite / How can I see a satellite?
- What was the bright object I saw in the sky last night?
- I think I saw a UFO. Can you confirm?
- When will the next solar or lunar eclipse take place?
- Where and when can I see a particular constellation?
- Which comets will be visible this year? Which were visible in history?
- I’d like to find a good site for observing the night sky.
- Can I look at stars through your telescope? Which UK observatories are open?
Solar system, planets, the Sun
- What can you tell me about the Sun? What are sunspots?
- Is the temperature and/or size of the Sun changing?
- When will the next solar or lunar eclipse take place?
- How many planets are there? Which way do they move/rotate?
- How did our solar system form?
- What extrasolar planets have been discovered?
- Which space probes are exploring the solar system?
Stars, galaxies, the universe
- How did our Universe begin and how will it end?
- What are double/binary/multiple stars? Can planets orbit them?
- How are stars formed? How do they live and die?
- What is a galaxy? How many stars in a galaxy / the Universe?
- Where and when can I see a particular constellation?
- What was the Star of Bethlehem?
Space exploration
Astronomical photography
- I’ve taken a photograph of a night sky object. Can you look at it?
- Do you have photographs of night sky objects I can look at?
New discoveries and theories
- I have a new theory that supersedes current ideas on cosmology/physics...
- I think I’ve discovered a new planet, comet or asteroid.
- I think I've found a meteorite.