Astronomy fact files

Note: these fact files have been written for age 16 and above.

We also have over 40 astronomy FAQs including 'When will the next solar or lunar eclipse take place?', 'What is the bright object I saw in the sky last night?', and 'Will an asteroid hit the earth?'

Astronomical instruments

Find out about telescopes, Meridian and Positional Astronomy, Photometry and Astronomical Spectroscopy.
Comets, meteors and asteroids

Find out about comets, meteors, meteorites and asteroids including how to make your own comet and the closest object ever.
Royal Observatory & history of astronomy

Learn about John Harrison, Halley, the Herschels, George Airy, Robert Hooke and Christopher Wren.
Stars

Stars, supernovae, constellations, pulsars, black holes, white dwarfs and star myths.
The solar system

Find out about our Sun and Moon, the planets and dwarf planets, eclipses, aurorae and sunspots.
The universe

Galaxies, cosmology, dark matter and the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence.
General astronomy

Find out how to become an astronomer and how UK astronomy is funded.
Space exploration archive

The International Space Station, Ulysses, Deep Impact, Cassini-Hugyens, Mir, Hipparcos, Galileo and many more.

Also of interest >>

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