Venus observing the evening star

From colliding galaxies to supermassive black holes, we take a look at some of the strangest sights in the universe

The beauty of sky gazing is how simple and adaptable it is. Begin whenever you have some time outside or near a window where you can see the sky, even if it’s just a patch. When you feel emotionally overloaded or flat, try it for a few minutes at a time.

BEST TIME TO SEE: 6, 13, 21 and 29 October at the times shown With long, dark nights settling in and Saturn favourably positioned in the sky, now’s a great time to catch an unusual view of the ringed

This October marks 50 years since a heavily shielded spacecraft, the Soviet Union’s Venera 9, parachuted into the atmosphere of Venus. Then, having landed, it did something extraordinary: it beamed ba

The worst time to look at the Moon is when it’s full, right? Not necessarily. It’s true that at full Moon, sunlight hits the surface head-on, flattening the appearance of its rugged landscape of deep

Best time to see: 31 October, 05:15 UT Altitude: 58° Location: Gemini Direction: South Features: Complex atmosphere, moons Recommended equipment: 100mm or larger Jupiter skips opposition in 2025. Its