Tom Urbain

Tom Urbain

About Author

Tom Urbain is an amateur astronomer, astrophotographer, and the original founder of Starlust.org, a space-focused website he launched in 2019 with one simple goal: to make the night sky feel less intimidating and more accessible to everyone. With no formal background in astronomy, Tom taught himself everything from telescope optics to lunar photography, a journey that began as a personal hobby and grew into a widely read online resource for stargazers around the world.
Driven by curiosity and a deep love for space, Tom spent years researching and creating hands-on guides for beginners, testing gear in his backyard in Manchester, and sharing monthly night-sky highlights to help readers reconnect with the cosmos. His approachable writing style and practical advice quickly earned him a loyal audience, many of whom were discovering astronomy for the first time.
When he’s not out chasing meteor showers or photographing the Moon through his telescope, Tom can often be found speaking on podcasts, contributing to astronomy communities, and advocating for dark-sky preservation. He currently lives in Manchester, UK, where despite the glow of city lights, he still manages to find wonder in the stars.

How far away is Mercury

Looking for the real-time distance between Earth and Mercury? Find out the current distance of Mercury with our reliable and accurate tracker.
May 2, 2023

How far away is Venus

Looking for the real-time distance between Earth and Venus? Find out the current distance of Venus with our reliable and accurate tracker.
Apr 25, 2023

What Happens If You Take Your Helmet Off in Space?

In this article, we look at what really happens if you take your helmet off in space. Are space movies right or wrong about this? Spoiler alert: nothing good happens...!
Apr 25, 2023

The Coolest and Weirdest Exoplanets

Let’s check out 10 of the coolest exoplanets that have been discovered including lava worlds, ice worlds, and other weird phenomena.
Apr 24, 2023

Refractors Vs Reflectors: The Pros & Cons of Each Telescope Design

Discover the pros and cons of refracting and reflecting telescopes. We'll compare key factors such as budget, aperture size, observing capability, ease of use and much more.
Apr 21, 2023

an introduction to Asteroids, comets, and meteoroids

We tend to prioritize the bigger parts of the solar system like the Sun, planets, and moons, but the solar system contains many smaller bodies that orbit the sun.
Apr 19, 2023

How long would it take to reach Saturn

From Earth to Saturn: An intriguing journey exploring the distance, time and logistics of interplanetary travel.
Apr 17, 2023

How long is a day on each planet and Why?

What is a day? While this may seem like an obvious question with an obvious answer, it gets a little complicated when we begin to consider anywhere other than Earth.
Apr 11, 2023

what are exoplanets

Explore the fascinating world of exoplanets and learn how scientists discover them. Learn the methods used to detect them, and the latest discoveries in the field.
Apr 4, 2023

How far away is Mars

Looking for the real-time distance between Earth and Mars? Find out the current distance of Mars with our reliable and accurate tracker.
Apr 4, 2023

What time is considered to be dusk

Learn about the definition of dusk and when it occurs, including factors that influence its timing and variations based on location and time of year.
Mar 31, 2023

The Spacecraft Cemetery

Meet the world's only spacecraft cemetery: Point Nemo, a unique and remote underwater graveyard for retired satellites and space debris.
Mar 29, 2023

Space Junk Removal

Since the beginning of the Space Race, we’ve been adding debris to the area of space around Earth, and it’s a growing problem that we need to address before it’s too late.
Mar 24, 2023

Is there gold on the Moon

Discover the intriguing possibility of gold on the Moon and learn about the challenges of lunar mining and the implications for future space exploration.
Mar 24, 2023

How many people are in space right now?

Discover the names of the brave men and women currently living and working aboard the two space stations currently in orbit around the planet.
Mar 10, 2023

How long does it take for light to reach Earth

Let’s explore the speed of light and how we use it to study the universe, including how we look into the past in the night sky.
Mar 7, 2023

How do astronauts shower in space?

Scrubbing up for our regular shower is important for maintaining good personal hygiene for our physical and mental health. However, being weightless, how do astronauts shower in space? 
Feb 28, 2023

why are astronauts weightless in space

We have all seen and probably have felt envious of astronauts floating in space. But why do they float in space and on the International Space Station?
Feb 21, 2023

The brightest planets

There are many beautiful objects in the night sky including stars and planets. But, which planets are the brightest in the night sky?
Feb 15, 2023

how many earths can fit inside Jupiter

Discover the massive size of Jupiter and find out how many Earths can fit inside the solar system's biggest gas planet.
Feb 14, 2023
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