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Observing the crescent Moon by binoculars.

Watch a lunar occultation of Uranus

7 September 2022

If you live in Europe, north Africa or north-west Asia, you can watch Uranus pass behind the moon and emerge on the other side in a rare lunar occultation this month


A planet-spotting extravaganza is coming, if you are an early riser

A planet-spotting extravaganza is coming, if you are an early riser

23 March 2022

Stargazing usually favours night owls, but here's a treat for early birds, says Abigail Beall, who offers a host of planets peeping over the horizon


Dwarf planet Ceres is shown in these false-color renderings, which highlight differences in surface materials.

Now is the perfect time to see dwarf planet Ceres for yourself

24 November 2021

The only dwarf planet in the inner solar system, Ceres will be at its closest to Earth for a week from the end of November. Catch it while you can, says Abigail Beall


Seize your chance to spot Mercury, the solar system's smallest planet

Seize your chance to spot Mercury, the solar system's smallest planet

27 November 2019

Mercury is so tiny and close to the sun it can be tricky to see. But now it’s at its greatest “angular separation” – so grab your binoculars and train them on the east


night sky

See Venus and Jupiter next to each other in the sky this week

20 November 2019

Two of the brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, are in conjunction this week, meaning they appear to line up with Earth in the sky. Here's how to spot them


sun

How to watch Mercury's transit of the sun with just binoculars

6 November 2019

On 11 November, the innermost planet of the solar system will make a rare crossing of the face of the sun. Here's how to see it without expensive kit


Spot six planets in the sky this week: Mercury, Mars, Uranus and more

Spot six planets in the sky this week: Mercury, Mars, Uranus and more

23 October 2019

Late October is a great time to spot planets, says Abigail Beall, and with a few tips you can find almost all those in the solar system


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