Astronomy guides

Summer solstice

When - and what - is the summer solstice? Understand the science behind the solstice with Royal Observatory Greenwich
Astronomy guides

What are the Pleiades?

Take a closer look at the Pleiades, an extremely hot cluster of young stars. Also known as the 'Seven Sisters' or M45, this stellar family has been the subject of numerous myths in cultures worldwide
People in astronomy

Who was John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal?

Meet the man tasked with mapping the night sky from Greenwich, and discover how a feud with Isaac Newton shaped the early history of the Royal Observatory

Never miss a shooting star

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Astronomy guides

Find out what you can see in the night sky with astronomers from Royal Observatory Greenwich

Deep space image showing the Veil Nebula, a glowing cloud of gas apparently floating in the darkness of space

Night Sky Highlights - July 2025

Discover what to see in the night sky this July, including two magnificent nebulae in Cygnus, Mercury at its best, and more!

Full Moon calendar 2025

Check the dates for every full Moon throughout the year, learn about the Moon's phases, 'supermoons' and more
PS-43711-19_The Dreamlike Sky Above the Sea of Clouds © Likai Lin.jpg

Astronomy with the naked eye

Learn what you could see in the night sky with no equipment from the Royal Observatory Greenwich; from galaxies and meteor showers to comets, star clusters, cloud formations and more
S-29174-13_Beyond the Fog © Michael Zav_yalov.jpg

Noctilucent clouds: what are they and when can you see them?

Discover more about the astronomy phenomenon that makes clouds appear to glow at night 
Image of green comet going through a red nebula, which resembles a rose

How to see the green comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

Discover how to see this once-in-a-lifetime comet, which might be visible to the naked eye under dark skies.
Image of a lake at twilight with snow-capped mountains behind it, while in the sky multiple images of a lunar eclipse have been compiled to make an arc showing its movement through the sky and its colour change from white to red, back to white

Lunar eclipse guide: When and where to see in the UK

Find out what a lunar eclipse is and when the next total lunar eclipse in the UK will occur
Photo of the very thin new crescent Moon which is yellow-white against a dark sky

How to sight the new crescent Moon

In the Islamic calendar, the new crescent Moon marks the start of the month
Rectangular image featuring a mountainous landscape in the bottom, with the Milky Way arching from the left to right of the image, smattered with stars. In the direct middle of the arc is an Orionid meteor, shining very brightly

Orionid meteor shower 2025: when and where to see it in the UK

What is it, when is it and where can I see the Orionid meteor shower this year?

Ursid meteor shower: When and where to see it in the UK

What is the Ursid meteor shower, when does it happen and how can I see it in 2025?
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Space science

Find space facts, learn about groundbreaking research and discover what the future holds for space exploration

Photograph of a spherical planet which is mainly cream white with a mottled and textured surface, but with a large patch of brown in the bottom left corner/

The dwarf planets: Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake and Eris

We’ve all heard of the planets, but what is a dwarf planet? And why isn’t Pluto a planet anymore?
Artist concept of a Martian base, with humans dressed in spacesuits visible in the foreground

How could humans live on Mars?

Astronomer and author Brendan Owens examines the challenges of sending humans to Mars - and what the future holds for our study of the Red Planet
Photograph of a sunrise taken from the International Space Station

How will the Universe end?

Life on Earth, our Sun and Solar System, the Milky Way – all good things must come to an end. But what about the fate of the Universe itself?

15 awe-inspiring astronomy discoveries

Discover 15 incredible astronomy facts that might just change how you see the Universe
Blue hued stars in the Pleiades Cluster

What are the Pleiades?

Take a closer look at the Pleiades, an extremely hot cluster of young stars. Also known as the 'Seven Sisters' or M45, this stellar family has been the subject of numerous myths in cultures worldwide
Image showing blue and black sky with slightly transparent golden and brown dust clouds, through which many stars are visible

The James Webb Space Telescope’s first year of images

Royal Observatory astronomer Julienne Hisole looks back on what we’ve learnt from the pioneering space telescope’s first 12 months of observing
A stylized photo of an astronaut against a black background. They are striding confidently dressed in orange space suit and helmet, and a blur effect makes it look like they are travelling at speed

The new space race: a high-stakes competition of politics and power

Competition between the USA, China and Russia will have consequences for all of us here on Earth. But how is this 21st century space race different to the last one?
An asteroid in space, passing Earth.

The Tunguska Event

Learn more about the Tunguska event in 1908, a highly destructive asteroid explosion that occurred in a remote area of Siberia
Artist's impression of Juice mission going past Jupiter

Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) Mission: All you need to know

How habitable are Jupiter's icy moons? Why is the Solar System's largest moon so unique? How did Jupiter, and other gas giant planets, form? Find out how the European Space Agency's groundbreaking JUICE mission will answer these questions and more.
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What’s On

Find space and astronomy events in Greenwich.

Image of a small proportion of the Sun, which is lit up in golden yellow at the surface and moves to darker colours away from the surface. A golden plume of a coronal mass ejection is coming out of the Sun and flowing parallel to it.
Exhibitions | Space and astronomy

Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition
See the world's greatest space photography at the National Maritime Museum
Open daily until 11 August 2025 | 10am-5pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Image of many people standing around within a photography gallery with astrophotography images on the walls
Talks and tours | Royal Observatory 350th anniversary

Evening of Astrophotography
Come along to a panel discussion to learn more about astrophotography, and enjoy a private viewing of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 exhibition
Friday 8 August 2025 | 6pm-8pm
Adults: £12 | Students and Under 25s: £8.50
National Maritime Museum
An illustration of the sun's magnetic fields over an image captured by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory
Courses | Astronomy courses

Intermediate Astronomy
Acquire a rigorous scientific understanding of the Universe with the Royal Observatory Greenwich
10-week module held on Tuesday evenings | See page for details
£205 per module
National Maritime Museum
Artist illustration imagining a view of Saturn rising as seen from one of its moons.
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astronomy
Learn the basics of astronomy with expert tutors from Royal Observatory Greenwich
Six-week courses held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
National Maritime Museum
Image of Cassiopeia A nebula, which resembles an explosion in waves of different colours
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astronomy Online
Learn the basics of astronomy at the home of time and space in this online course
Six-week courses held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
Online
Colour-enhanced view of Jupiter captured by the Juno NASA mission. Swirling clouds of white, blue and gray fill the upper right corner of the image where the planet's surface can be seen
Courses | Astronomy courses

Introduction to Astrophysics
Explore topics at the cutting edge of scientific research and the limits of human knowledge
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
National Maritime Museum
A scientist stands in front of the James Webb Space Telescope during testing
Courses | Astronomy courses

An Introduction to Life in the Universe
Are we alone in the Universe? Join this online adult course for an introduction to astrobiology and an exploration of how astronomers search for alien life
Six-week course held on Monday evenings | See page for details
£96
Online
A man leans in to a telescope eyepiece during an evening astronomy event
Courses | Astronomy courses

Amateur Astronomy For Beginners
A course for those looking to make astronomy into a hobby
Six-week course held on Tuesday evenings | See page for available dates
£96
National Maritime Museum
History of astronomy

The discoveries and instruments that changed our understanding of the universe

Drone photograph of the Royal Observatory lit up at night

History of the Royal Observatory

Find out more about the founding of the Royal Observatory, and how Greenwich came to be known as the 'Home of Time'
General map of telegraph lines between Europe, India, Australia and China by Oriental telegraph company

Charles Todd and Australia's Overland Telegraph Line

In this blog we explore the remarkable life of Charles Todd, a Greenwich astronomer who championed Australia's Overland Telegraph Line
Historic photograph showing an astronomer peering into the eyepiece of the Great Equatorial Telescope at the Royal Observatory. Another astronomer is taking notes to the left

History of the Great Equatorial Telescope

The Great Equatorial Telescope at the Royal Observatory kept Britain at the forefront of astrophysics and greatly expanded our knowledge of stars

The Heavens and their Story

In this blog we look at a practical astronomical work written by the husband and wife team of Walter and Annie Maunder. The Maunders worked in the Solar Department of the Royal Observatory Greenwich in the early 1890s.
Image of blue round planet which is Uranus, with a blue ring around it

The Discovery of Uranus

Learn more about how William Herschel discovered Uranus in 1781, the first new planet that had been discovered since antiquity

Weathervanes at the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Discover the history and stories behind the Royal Observatory's weathervanes

What was the Christmas Star?

From comets to supernova explosions, discover some of the theories about the Star of Bethlehem

Mathematics, navigation and empire: reassessing John Dee’s legacy

John Dee (1527-1609) was a philosopher and scholar whose work during the Tudor period has been overshadowed by his alleged sorcerous and occultist activities. He is best known for having conversations with angels through his scryer Edward Kelley's interests in astrology, alchemy, calendar reform and suggesting the date for Queen Elizabeth's coronation. What John Dee may not be as well known for is his influence on English navigation and being the first person to coin the term 'British Empire'.

Mapping the Moon: the story of the Wilkins Moon map

Find out more about one of the most detailed maps of the Moon ever created.
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Astrophotography

Learn how to take incredible images of the night sky with expert advice from astronomers and award-winning photographers

Landscape photo of three people on a golden green Austrian mountain standing around a large telescope which has a big metal frame and is around 5.5 feet tall

Finding community through astrophotography

Sophie Paulin and Tom Williams struck up a friendship in an online astrophotography forum. Discover how they combined their expertise to win a prize in Astronomy Photographer of the Year
Colour mapped image of Earth

Anatomy of a habitable planet: Earth as you've never seen it before

Sergio Díaz Ruiz uses satellite imagery to explore climate change by creating an image of Earth as it might be analysed by a distant alien civilisation
Photo of two young brothers looking up into the lenses of a large telescope, the one on the right has his arm around the other

A stellar duo: two young astrophotographers shooting for the stars

Meet the youngest entrants in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024: brothers Benjamin and Joshua Lawler
A sequence of telescope images stacked together to show the progression of a solar eclipse. A black semi-circle is visible on the left, with bands of yellow marking the changing amount of light as the Moon passes in front of the Sun

Beads of sunlight: photographing an annular solar eclipse

Ryan Imperio's spellbinding image of our Sun earned him the top prize in Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024
Image of dry mud terrain where the sea is out, with a curved path through the landscape with water in and big cracks in the mud. Rotted wooden sea defenses come out from the land. Behind in the blue sky are star trails forming concentric curved lines

'Out with the camera, my senses are heightened' – behind the lens with Paul Haworth

Discover the vibrant nocturnal world of East Anglian astrophotographer Paul Haworth, shortlisted in 2024's Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition
Solar Flare X1 from AR2994 in 'Motion' by Miguel Claro

Astronomy Photographer of the Year 15: In conversation with entrants and winners

Listen to interviews with shortlisted and winning entrants from the 2023 competition
Image of blue circle of water forming a unique pattern of droplets against a black background

Seeing the sound of a black hole: the story of Black Echo

How do you picture something that is invisible and inaudible to humans? Artist and photographer John White has the answer
A woman takes a photograph using a DSLR and a tripod. She is standing in a forest in front of grey rocks, wearing an orange-red coat, her camera facing the viewer

Behind the lens with Monika Deviat

Dancer, educator, heavy metal fan and astrophotographer, discover more about the Aurorae winner of Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2023
Image of turquoise curved arc or cloud next to the Andromeda Galaxy

Andromeda, Unexpected - how three amateur astronomers and astrophotographers changed our view of the Universe

Learn about the brand-new discovery that earned Marcel Drechsler, Xavier Strottner and Yann Sainty the title of Astronomy Photographer of the Year – and a place in the science books 
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Watch

Can giant planets form around the smallest stars? In this special Think Space Lecture, Dr Edward Bryant from the University of Warwick talks about his research into exoplanets and the extremes of planet formation. Watch the full lecture series on YouTube.

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How do we see and hear the Universe? It's a simple question with a complicated answer. Watch how astrophotographer John White created this arresting photo of water droplets vibrating to the 'sound' of a black hole.

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People in astronomy

Meet amazing individuals involved in astronomy, from groundbreaking figures from history to people pushing the boundaries of science today

Portrait of John Flamsteed.

Who was John Flamsteed, the first Astronomer Royal?

Meet the man tasked with mapping the night sky from Greenwich, and discover how a feud with Isaac Newton shaped the early history of the Royal Observatory
Image of Cassiopeia A nebula, which resembles an explosion in waves of different colours

Accidental astronomy: an interview with Chris Lintott

Professor Chris Lintott, author, astrophysicist and presenter of the BBC's 'Sky at Night’ programme, discusses the incredible astronomical discoveries made by accident or through unplanned detours
17th century painting of the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park

Women at Royal Observatory Greenwich

Discover the women who worked in and around the Royal Observatory, facing barriers and prejudice due to their gender
John Herschel

Remembering Sir John F.W. Herschel (1792–1871)

Learn about the life of the pioneering mathematician, astronomer and polymath – and his links with the Royal Observatory

7 female scientists you might not have heard of

Einstein, Newton and Galileo are names we have heard numerous times. But who are the women who have changed the world of science, and why don’t we know their names too?

How many people have walked on the Moon?

The first crewed lunar landing in 1969 was a historic triumph for the USA and humankind. Including the Apollo 11 mission, 12 men have walked on the Moon. But who were they?

Michael Collins's space photo

Michael Collins is the third astronaut on the Apollo 11 mission. He remained in the Command Module as Edwin Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong landed on the Moon surface in 1969

The library of George Airy

Within the Caird Library's collection of rare books is the personal library of the seventh Astronomer Royal, Sir George Biddell Airy. It features a plethora of scientific and astronomical research, as well as some of the Library's most historically significant works such as Copernicus's influential 'De revolutionibus orbium coelestium' and Flamsteed's controversial 'Historiae coelestis', which was published without his consent
Old photograph of youngish woman in Victorian times

Annie Maunder: solar astronomer and astrophotographer

Find out more about Annie Maunder, a pioneering astronomer, astrophotographer and science communicator
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Explore the universe in Greenwich

Visit the Royal Observatory, meet our astronomers at the Peter Harrison Planetarium, and take your knowledge to the next level with our range of books and courses

Royal Observatory
Visit the home of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), the Prime Meridian of the world and London’s only Planetarium
What's on at the Peter Harrison Planetarium
Out-of-this-world planetarium shows and live astronomy experiences for the whole family - visit London's only Planetarium at the Royal Observatory Greenwich
Astronomy courses at Royal Museums Greenwich
Discover our range of astronomy courses suitable for a range of individuals and experience
Shop
Stargazing: Beginners Guide To Astronomy
£9.99
By Radmila Topalovic and Tom Kerss, Astronomers at the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Stargazing is a useful manual to help astronomy beginners navigate the world of telescopes, planets and celestial maps...
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Royal Observatory Greenwich Celestron Travel Scope 70 Telescope
£99.99
The Travel Scope 70 is a refractor telescope perfect for terrestrial and celestial viewing on the go. The Travel Scope can view the planets, moon, star clusters and brighter deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Galaxy at night and with the erect image star diagonal it makes the optical tube ideal for using as a spotting scope during the day...
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Royal Observatory Greenwich Illuminates: The Universe
£9.99
Given that it includes literally everything in existence, it’s not surprising that the Universe is the source of some of the greatest mysteries in physics...
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Help make science accessible to all

The Royal Observatory is part of Royal Museums Greenwich, a charity that relies on your support to maintain our telescopes, preserve our historic buildings and run our fantastic astronomy programmes. Donate today and support our astronomers' important work.
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