We might make wishes on stars but there's much more to these balls of gas than simply being twinkly, mystical objects in the night sky. Discover how stars are formed, how they get their names, what makes a galaxy, and the history of constellations.

15 awe-inspiring astronomy discoveries
Discover 15 incredible astronomy facts that might just change how you see the Universe
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 
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
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
21 amazing astronomy events in 2021
From spectacular meteor showers to bold new space missions, Royal Observatory astronomers pick their night sky highlights.
What was the Christmas Star?
From comets to supernova explosions, discover some of the theories about the Star of Bethlehem
Above and Beyond infographic: How high?
How high can you go? Get the low-down on all that's 'high up' in our fact-packed infographic. Who has flown the highest? Could we really build an elevator to space?
Ursa Minor (Little Bear) and Polaris
Polaris is the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation, and for centuries was used by sailors for navigating at sea.
The Sun
The Sun’s diameter is 100 times that of Earth’s but its mass is 300,000 times greater and it is 15,000,000°C at its core.
Naming the stars
There are only a few things money can’t buy and your name on a star is one of them. So how are they named?