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.
In addition to his work with Starlust, Tom also founded Card Codex, a platform dedicated to collectible card games.
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.
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.
In addition to his work with Starlust, Tom also founded Card Codex, a platform dedicated to collectible card games.
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.
Latest From Tom Urbain
The biggest stars in the universe
Our Sun is not a particularly large star. In fact, the universe is home to many celestial behemoths. Let's take a look at some of the largest known stars.
Why is Venus hotter than mercury
It would make sense that the closer an object is to the Sun, the hotter it would be. So why is Venus hotter than Mercury?
How much does a spacesuit cost?
Behind every astronaut is a spacesuit with a remarkable price. Delve into the costs and complexities of these engineering marvels in this article.
The Different Types of Stars in The Universe
While there are ~10^24 stars in the universe, there are less than 20 types of stars. In this article, we’ll explore star types.
What are the differences between a star and a planet?
How can we tell the difference between stars and planets, and how can this help us to identify them in the night sky?
Which Is the Hottest Planet in Our Solar System?
Here’s what you need to know about Venus and its scorching surface, and why it is the hottest planet in the solar system.
How NASA's Mars Perseverance Technology is Already Paying Off
The Perseverance rover is equipped with new technology in order to carry out experiments. Let's have a look at some of these technological innovations.
how are astronauts protected from radiation?
Scientists have long known that radiation levels are higher in space than what we experience on the Earth’s surface.
The biggest asteroids in the solar system
The largest asteroids are impressive pieces of space debris floating around in our solar system that have helped shape the space around them.
How do astronauts pee and poop in space?
Even people who go into space on a high-tech spacecraft after years of preparation need to go to the bathroom! Let's find out how they do it!
What are asteroids made of?
As many space companies become more interested in mining asteroids, let's take a look at the minerals contained in these space rocks.
Famous Astronomers
There have been many notable astronomers throughout history, all of which have added to the field in one way or another.
space objects you can easily see with binoculars
Using binoculars for stargazing is a fairly inexpensive way to observe many celestial objects with your own eyes.
Birthday Star
When light from a given star has taken as long as your lifetime to reach our planet, it is called a "birthday star".
Astronomy vs Astrology
Although astronomy and astrology both relate to the different objects that can be found in our universe, there are some fundamental differences between the two.
what is a shooting star
One of the most beautiful aspects of stargazing is looking up to see shooting stars (also known as falling stars) streaking across the night skies.
The brightest stars in the night sky
When you look up into the night sky, you might have noticed that not all the stars shine equally. Learn how to recognize the 5 brightest stars.
What are the different types of asteroids?
Asteroids are classed into different groups depending on their chemical composition and where they formed in the solar system.
How many rovers are on Mars?
There are 3 rovers and 1 lander exploring and studying Mars inch by inch. These robotic vehicles are a vital part of space exploration.
What is the Zodiacal Light?
The zodiacal light, also known as “False Dawn” is a triangle-shaped faint glow that can sometimes be seen shortly after sunset or before dawn.