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
How many moons are there in the solar system?
Find out how many moons all the planets have, from Mercury to Uranus! Although small, these moons are interesting yet mysterious worlds of their own.
Space Food
Enjoying a meal in space is a very different experience than on earth. Find out what kind of food astronauts eat during their space mission.
What is a blood moon
The moon that we are most familiar with is white in colour. However, it sometimes takes on a majestic red appearance. Read here to know why.
How much does a good telescope cost
Buying a high-quality telescope can be a significant investment. To help you plan your budget, we have created this guide about telescope prices in 2021.
How long does it take to travel to the moon
How long does it take to travel to the Moon, and what can influence the travel time of a spacecraft? Let's dive in! Or should I say, let's take off?
40 Deep and Meaningful Quotes About The Stars
Observing the night sky fills me with a sense of amazement, and I hope these beautiful and profound quotes about the stars will make you feel the same way.
Gibbous Moon
The gibbous moon is one of the various phases that the Moon goes through during its monthly lunar cycle. Learn more about its meaning here.
How many people have walked on the moon
Between 1969 and 1972, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent 12 astronauts to walk on the surface of the Moon.
The Planets In Order From The Sun
Is the order of the planets important? Yes, since the gravitational stability of our solar system is based on their current position!
How Big is The Sun?
In this article, we will compare the size of the Sun with the size of the planets as well as the size of the biggest stars known to date.
Dobsonian Telescopes
Dobsonian telescopes are a type of reflecting telescope that is very popular in the visual astronomy community.
best stargazing apps for iPhone and Android
Applications for iPhone & Android have revolutionized backyard astronomy. It’s now easier than ever to find your way around the night sky.
How to Buy a Telescope
Choosing your first telescope can be overwhelming. Here are the most important things to know and do before buying your first telescope.
Where is the ISS
You could see the station a few times within a few hours, granted you are on the night side of the planet and you know where to look.
Messier Catalog
The messier catalog is an index of the different objects in the night sky that can be observed with a telescope or a pair of binoculars.
Space Podcasts
For many amateur astronomers or space aficionados, astronomy podcasts are a very convenient way to keep up to date with the latest space news.
countries that have been to the moon
Since the moon is our closest celestial neighbour, it has naturally been the main target for many missions completed by a few countries.
Telescope Magnification
Mastering your telescope magnification power will enable you to have greater flexibility as an amateur astronomer.
Telescope focal length
The focal length is one of the few important measures on a telescope that can greatly impact the quality of the image you’ll see through the eyepiece.
Telescope aperture
The aperture is one of the most important characteristics of any telescope, and one to consider carefully when choosing one to buy.