BBC Sky at Night

Sky at Night magazine is your practical guide to astronomy. Each issue features the world’s biggest and best night sky guide complete with star charts, observing tutorials and in-depth equipment reviews to ensure that amateur astronomers never miss those must-see events.

Welcome • After a stellar year for space science, bring on 2026!

Sky at Night - lots of ways to enjoy the night sky…

This month's contributors

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ALONG CAME A SPIDER • Infrared vison reveals this cosmic arachnid in extraordinary detail

Earth-sized planets found orbiting double stars • Two new worlds force a rethink of planet formation in extreme systems

Star's death captured as it happened • Fast action meant the supernova shockwave was revealed in a way never seen before

Space junk strands astronauts on space station • Chinese crew couldn't risk re-entry after capsule damaged by debris

The Universe's expansion may be slowing down • New study suggests current theories of dark energy coulds be wrong

Blue Origin lands reusable orbital booster • New Glenn delivers Mars-bound payload and nails landing on its second-ever flight

Largest-ever flare from a black hole spotted • The star-shredding event blazes with the power of 10 trillion Suns

Merger of ‘impossibly’ massive black holes explained • Scientists discover how enormous, fast-spinning black holes can exist after all

Building blocks of life found another galaxy • JWST detects complex organic molecules outside the Milky Way for the first time

The Milky Way as you've never seen it before • This is the largest low-frequency radio colour image of our Galaxy ever assembled

Can we turn Mars green? • What scientists say it would take to make Mars habitable

How do black holes grow so large? • New Euclid study shows galaxy collisions feed the giants

INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT • 2026 is going to be a fantastic year for exoplanet research. The Sky at Night presenter George Dransfield tells us why she's counting down to a flood of new discoveries

Once Upon a Time in Space

Comet Lemmon, with a twist…

BBC Sky at Night

To sleep among the stars • The rhythms of the night sky can help you wash the worries of the day away and find a restful night's sleep, says Mark Westmoquette

10 amazing space discoveries of 2025 • Our understanding of the Solar System - and the wider Universe - has changed dramatically in the last 12 months. Join George Dransfield as she spotlights the year's astonishing breakthroughs

Hearing the cosmos • Space isn't silent. What happens when we listen to the Universe as well as look? Paul Fisher Cockburn explores how sonification - turning data into sound - unlocks new ways for us to understand the cosmos

Astronomy's prize-winning sounds • Listening to the Universe has led to some major space discoveries

Everyday sonification • Sound can help open astronomy up to visually impaired people

What samples from space have taught us • Alastair Gunn explains what scientists have learnt in the 20 years since the first unmanned mission brought materials back from alien worlds

The Sky Guide • JANUARY 2026

JANUARY HIGHLIGHTS • Your guide to the night sky this month

NEED TO KNOW • The terms and symbols used in The Sky Guide

THE BIG THREE • The top sights to observe or image this month

The planets in January

THE PLANETS • Our celestial neighbourhood in January

THE NIGHT SKY - JANUARY • Explore the celestial sphere with our Northern Hemisphere all-sky chart

MOONWATCH • January's top lunar feature to observe

COMETS AND ASTEROIDS • Track...