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.

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.
Sep 24, 2020

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.
Sep 7, 2020

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.
Aug 25, 2020

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.
Jul 28, 2020

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.
Jul 17, 2020

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.
Jul 8, 2020

Telescope Magnification

Mastering your telescope magnification power will enable you to have greater flexibility as an amateur astronomer.
Jun 10, 2020

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.
May 4, 2020

Telescope aperture

The aperture is one of the most important characteristics of any telescope, and one to consider carefully when choosing one to buy.
Apr 28, 2020

cosmonaut vs astronaut

Why are we using two different words for people who are basically doing the same job? Why are there astronauts on one side and cosmonauts on the other?
Mar 12, 2020

What color is the moon

Everybody knows that the Moon is mainly grey. However, upon closer inspection, there might be a few more different shades up there.
Mar 2, 2020

Space Memes

Astronomy is a complex subject but it can be fun too! We have collected some of the best space memes on this page for you to enjoy and share around.
Feb 26, 2020

Can you see stars in space

Ever since the first moon landing, people have been wondering about the absence of stars in the background of images taken by astronauts.
Feb 20, 2020

space movies

If you need a little space adventure while relaxing on your couch with a blanket, check out our rundown of my favorite movies taking place in space!
Feb 3, 2020

Lupus Constellation

The Lupus constellation is a part of the southern hemisphere night sky in which a group of close stars together form the outline of a mythical wolf.
Dec 23, 2019

planetarium uk

There are about 40 planetariums in the United Kingdom, and we have gathered some information about 8 of our favorite ones in this article.
Nov 20, 2019

cosmic soundscapes

From the Sun to Pluto, listen to what the planets of the solar system sounds like when their radio waves are translated into sounds we can hear.
Oct 1, 2019

jupiter through a telescope

Observing Jupiter through a telescope is a breathtaking and rewarding experience! Learn how to see this majestic planet with our simple stargazing guide.
Sep 23, 2019

space documentary

If you fancy a little bit of space exploration while sitting comfortably on your sofa under a blanket, here is our space documentary selection.
Aug 28, 2019

uranus through a telescope

Observing Uranus through a home telescope is at the limit of what amateur astronomers can really do. Good - We love a challenge.
Apr 30, 2019
Previous 13 14 15 16 17 Next