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 • Get to know a different side of the Milky Way this winter

Become an Insider

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

This month’s contributors

Extra content ONLINE

TWIN RING BLING • This beautiful new portrait shows the detail of a barred spiral galaxy with a rare double ring structure

BULLETIN • The latest astronomy and space news, written by Ezzy Pearson

Comment

NEWS IN BRIEF

CUTTING EDGE • Our experts examine the hottest new research

INSIDE THE SKY AT NIGHT • In November’s episode of The Sky at Night, Paul Eccleston looked forward to the long awaited launch of the James Webb Space Telescope

Looking back: The Sky at Night

The Sky at Night DECEMBER

INTERACTIVE

SCOPE DOCTOR • Our equipment specialist cures your optical ailments and technical maladies

Sky at Night

WHAT’S ON • We pick the best live and virtual astronomy events and resources this month

PICK OF THE MONTH

Space mission mishaps • Slip-ups can happen anywhere, including space, as Jonathan Powell discovers

The midwinter Milky Way • Take in the celestial targets of our home Galaxy with Stuart Atkinson’s winter observing tour

The geometry of the winter Milky Way • The view of our Galaxy in the night sky reveals how our perspective changes as Earth orbits the Sun

Photographing the Milky Way • If you’re observing the winter Milky Way, why not see if you can capture an image of it as well?

THE NEUTRON STAR THAT MAKES NO SENSE • Neutron stars are some of the densest objects in the Universe but, as Colin Stuart discovers, one is breaking the limits of how big they should be

What is ‘nuclear pasta’? • Strange shapes of spaghetti and other pasta types thread their way around neutron stars

Anatomy of a neutron star • A neutron star has a similar structure to our planet, with an atmosphere, crust and core. But what goes on inside is very different

The Sky Guide

DECEMBER HIGHLIGHTS • Your guide to the night sky this month

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

THE PLANETS • Our celestial neighbourhood in December

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

MOONWATCH • December’s top lunar feature to observe

COMETS AND ASTEROIDS • Follow C/2021 A1 Leonard, which may reach naked-eye brightness this month

STAR OF THE MONTH • Spot Mintaka at the top of Orion’s Belt

BINOCULAR TOUR • Locate this month’s selection of wide-field targets in and around Orion, the Hunter

THE SKY GUIDE CHALLENGE • Locate and image three variable nebulae to see how they change over time

DEEP-SKY TOUR • This month’s tour visits objects in Taurus, some familiar and others less so

AT A GLANCE • How the Sky Guide events will appear in December

Who let the dogs out? • The origin of Canes Venatici, the Hunting Dogs, can be traced to the 17th century, but who deserves credit? Ian Ridpath picks up the scent

Cor Caroli – the heart of King Charles • The brightest star in Canes Venatici has a rich history of its own

DART A mission with impact • Govert Schilling takes a look at the NASA mission that will attempt to deflect an asteroid, part of a collaboration with ESA that could save Earth from a catastrophic impact

Lucy and the Trojans • The...