David Dickinson

David Dickinson is a freelance science writer and long-time sky watcher. He has built telescopes and observatories, chased eclipses, and travels and observes with his wife, Myscha, on a mission to get ‘eyes on the sky’ worldwide. His books The Universe Today Ultimate Guide to Observing the Cosmos, The Astronomer’s Deep-Sky Field Guide and science fiction short stories are available here.

Recent Articles

Monster Oort Cloud Comet Observed in the Outer Solar System

June 20, 2025

Comet C/2014 UN271 is one of the largest Oort Cloud comets ever observed, measuring 140 km across. It's currently at a distance of 16.5 AU from the Sun, which makes it tough to observe with all but the largest telescopes. Astronomers have used ALMA in Chile to observe the comet, watching as jets of carbon monoxide gas are erupting from its nucleus. This is a surprising level of activity for a comet that's so far from the Sun.
How Ten Times More Rocket Launches a Year Could Impact the Ozone Layer

June 18, 2025

A recent study looked at the challenges New Space may face, in terms of impact on the ozone layer. The study was published recently in the journal of Nature (link) by researchers out of University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, Harvard University, and the Institute for Atmospheric Climate Science and the Physics-Meteorology Observatory in Switzerland.
Amateur Astronomy Outreach in Saint Lucia with LUNAA Journeys

June 16, 2025

LUNAA Journeys (St. LUcia National Astronomy Association) is looking to address an all too common problem in the global astronomical community. Too often, participation in astronomy is seen as cost prohibitive, the sole pursuit of large universities or organizations that can afford to build a large modern observatory, or launch the Hubble Space Telescope. This is unfortunate, as there’s never been an era of more readily accessible information, out there in terms of astronomy and skywatching.
June's Full Moon is the Southernmost for a Generation

May 30, 2025

Not all Full Moons are created the same. Follow the familiar Moon long enough, and you'll notice something strange, as it seems to wander across the sky from north to south, from one cycle to the next. Welcome to the fantastic precession of our natural satellite the Moon. Last December, we saw the 'Long Night's Full Moon,' as the Full Moon nearest to the solstice rode the highest in the sky for the last two decades. Now, its time for the southern hemisphere to get a turn, as the Moon heads steeply southward, on its way to Full on June 11th.
Venus Has a Single Solid Crust... But It's Surprisingly Thin

May 23, 2025

Our nearest neighbor is only slightly smaller than the Earth… but that's just about the only thing the two planets have in common. Now, a recent NASA-funded study suggests that the interior of Venus may be equally strange as well.
SPHEREx is Now Mapping the Entire Sky

May 06, 2025

A new space mission is open for business. Last week, we got a look at science images from NASA's SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Re-ionization, and Ices Explorer) mission. The mission will now begin science operations, taking 3,600 unique images a day in an effort to create a 3D map of the sky.
Soviet-era Venus Mission to Reenter in May

April 30, 2025

It's one straight out of the history books. After over 50 years in space, the late Soviet Union's Kosmos-482 mission is set to reenter the Earth's atmosphere, early next month. Stranded in Earth orbit, there are just a few weeks remaining to see this enigmatic relic of a bygone era.
Astro-Challenge: See Titan's Shadow Cross Saturn

April 28, 2025

Nothing wows new observers like seeing Saturn for the first time. I always check out the ringed planet if it's visible, and telescopes down the line at any star party will invariably be pointed Saturn-ward to a chorus of 'oh's' and 'ah's'…. but 2025 gives you another reason to gaze at Saturn, as its largest moon Titan completes a series of rare shadow transits.
Catch a Rare Lunar-Planetary Grouping Friday Morning

April 24, 2025

Occasionally, the Universe seems to literally smile upon us. If skies are clear Friday morning on April 25th, early rising sky watchers may witness a rare scene, as brilliant Venus and fainter Saturn form the 'eyes' and a thin crescent Moon nearby completes the 'grin' low to the east at dawn.
What Do Famous Astronomical Objects Look Like... in 3D?

April 23, 2025

It's a cosmic shame, that we tend to only see flat-looking, 2-dimensional views of deep-sky objects. And while we can't just zoom out past the Andromeda galaxy for another perspective, or see the Crab Nebula from another vantage point in space, we can use existing data to simulate objects in 3D. A recent collection released by Marshall Space Flight Center's Chandra X-ray Center and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics shows us familiar objects in a new way.
April Flowers, Bring Meteor Showers: Catch the April Lyrid and Eta Aquariid Meteor Showers

April 16, 2025

If skies are clear, be sure to watch for the April Lyrid meteors this Easter weekend. Spring in the northern hemisphere brings with it the promise for the Lyrids, the first good meteor shower of the season. Weather is just warming up in April, but we're not yet in the midst of summer, waiting up late hours for darkness to fall.
New Comet SWAN Could Put On a Brief Show at Dawn

April 09, 2025

Newly discovered comet C/2025 F2 SWAN could put on a brief dawn display over the next few weeks. Discovered thanks to the hard work of online sleuths and amateur astronomers, the comet may brighten towards perihelion on May 1st.
Saturn at Dawn: Catch the Rings Edge-on for 2025

April 08, 2025

Familiar Saturn currently provides dawn observers with a bizarre, 'ring-less' view.
A Mission That Could Reach Mercury on Solar Sails Alone

April 03, 2025

An innovative proposal would be a first for planetary exploration. Turns out, it's as tough to drop inward into the inner solar system, as it is to head outward. The problem stems from losing momentum from a launch starting point on Earth. It can take missions several years and planetary flybys before capture and arrival in orbit around Mercury or Venus. Now, a new proposal would see a mission make the trip, using innovative and fuel efficient means.
Catch a Deep Partial Solar Eclipse Spanning the North Atlantic This Weekend

March 26, 2025

Got clear skies this weekend? If clouds cooperate, observers in the North Atlantic and surrounding regions may witness a rare spectacle: a partial solar eclipse. This is the second eclipse of 2025, and bookends the first eclipse season of the year. The season started with March 14th total lunar eclipse. Depending where you are observing from, this is a shallow to a deep partial, 'almost' total solar eclipse.
Astro-Challenge: Following Venus From Dusk Til Dawn

March 19, 2025

With luck and clear skies, you can spot Venus crossing between the Earth and the Sun this weekend. Up for a challenge? If skies are clear, you may be able to complete a rare feat of visual athletics this coming weekend, and follow Venus on its trek from the evening and into the morning sky.
Hubble Finds a Potential Triple Kuiper Belt Object

March 13, 2025

A distant trio of worlds may shed light on planetary formation in the early solar system. Sometimes, good things come in threes. If astronomers are correct, a system in the distant Kuiper Belt may not be two but three worlds, offering an insight into formation in the early solar system. The study comes out of researchers at Brigham Young University and the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Catching the March Total Lunar Eclipse

March 07, 2025

After a long 'eclipse drought,' lunar totality once again spans the Americas The end is in sight. If skies are clear, North and South America will witness a fine total lunar eclipse early Friday morning, March 14th. This is the first eclipse of 2025, and the first total lunar eclipse for the hemisphere since November 2022.
Is T Coronae Borealis About to Light Up?

February 27, 2025
Lunar Gateway's Core HALO Module Enters the Clean Room

February 20, 2025