Collins Astronomy

How the James Webb Space Telescope is lifting the cosmic veil to explore the unknown

How the James Webb Space Telescope is lifting the cosmic veil to explore the unknown

On Christmas Day this year, astronomers and space enthusiasts around the world will be celebrating the third anniversary of the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope, which sailed into orbit aboard an Ariane 5 rocket (from the Guiana Space...

5 min

Could we live on Mars?

Could we live on Mars?

Mars is not a welcoming world for humans or other life as we know it. Even the deepest regions of the Arctic or Antarctic are more hospitable than the most sheltered surface areas on Mars. This is mostly because Earth...

4 min

Chasing the Great American Eclipse

Chasing the Great American Eclipse

'Even if you care little about the Sun, Moon, or astronomy – you should still strive to see a total solar eclipse in your lifetime. It’s not about the science, it’s about the inherent beauty of the celestial dance...

4 min

Stargazing in January 2024: What to look out for in the night sky

Stargazing in January 2024: What to look out for in the night sky

Looking to take up stargazing in the New Year? The winter months, with darker and longer nights, are a brilliant time to start getting acquainted with the night sky. If you’re wondering what to look out for in January...

3 min

What is a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse?

What is a ‘ring of fire’ eclipse?

This Saturday (14th October), an annular or ‘ring of fire’ solar eclipse will be visible across North and South America. Solar eclipses occur as the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, occurring 1-2 times a...

3 min

Three surprising findings about our mysterious cosmos

Three surprising findings about our mysterious cosmos

You are living through a monumental period of astronomical science. Just over four centuries ago, a handful of pioneering explorers first turned their telescopes – a novel invention at the time – toward the sky. On the grand scale...

7 min

Eight incredible images from Webb’s first year

Eight incredible images from Webb’s first year

All image credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI On Christmas Day in 2021, astronomers around the world watched with bated breath as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) soared into the sky aboard an Ariane 5 heavy-lift rocket from French Guiana...

6 min

Exploring Sun Mythology: From Ancient Egypt to the Aztec Empire

Exploring Sun Mythology: From Ancient Egypt to the Aztec Empire

Since the dawn of the modern human, mankind has recognised the importance of the Sun and its varying location on the daytime sky.

3 min

The Sun we see, the Sun we don’t

The Sun we see, the Sun we don’t

The human eyes can only see a tiny fraction of the light around us. Light travels as a wave, covering the full spectrum of gamma rays, X-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves. The only difference between the...

3 min

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here…” – The Apollo 13 Mission

“Houston, we’ve had a problem here…” – The Apollo 13 Mission

This month marks the 53rd anniversary of the Apollo 13. Read on to learn all about this mission – what it set out to do, and what went wrong – in this extract from Night Sky Almanac 2023.

4 min

The Mythology of the Northern Lights

The Mythology of the Northern Lights

If you have read the news over the past few days – or, if you’re lucky, if you have looked up at the northern horizon – you won’t have missed the breath-taking view of the aurora borealis. Over the past...

3 min

What are the names of the full moons?

What are the names of the full moons?

Many different cultures had specific names for the Full Moon, depending on the time of the year. The interval between successive Full Moons is known as the synodic month and it is, on average, 29.53 days – so the names have come...

4 min