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
Today's moon phase in Charleston
Discover today's moon phase in Charleston with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Anchorage
Discover today's moon phase in Anchorage with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Winnipeg
Discover today's moon phase in Winnipeg with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Boise
Discover today's moon phase in Boise with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Wichita
Discover today's moon phase in Wichita with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Halifax
Discover today's moon phase in Halifax with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Wilmington
Discover today's moon phase in Wilmington with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's moon phase in Oakville
Discover today's moon phase in Oakville with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's Moon phase in Los Angeles
Discover today's Moon phase in Los Angeles with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's Moon phase in Indianapolis
Discover today's Moon phase in Indianapolis with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Today's Moon phase in Salt Lake City
Discover today's Moon phase in Salt Lake City with accurate details on illumination, visibility, and lunar events. Stay connected with the cosmos daily on Starlust.org
Astronaut Christmas
23 Christmases have been celebrated in orbit, and these intrepid spacefarers have perfected the art of creating a holiday atmosphere unlike any other.
What are comets? Different types and where they come from
Comets, time capsules of primordial materials from 4.6 billion years ago, are explained here in detail, including every type.
The entirety of the US history happened within just one Pluto orbit
From the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the present day, the American saga of liberty, innovation, and cultural evolution has unfolded within just one Plutonian year.
Health Issue Related to Spaceflight
In this article, we’ll be looking at the long-term health impacts of space travel, and talk about how the human body adapts, or struggles to adapt, to this extraordinary environment.
Can astronauts vote from space?
Learn how legal innovations enable astronauts to vote from space, highlighting the blend of technology and law that upholds democratic rights aboard the ISS.
3C 273 Quasar
3C 273 is the first identified and optically brightest quasar, the super bright nucleus of an “active” galaxy.
Albireo
Albireo is one of the most beautiful double stars in the sky, probably the finest in the heavens for small telescopes.
Campbell’s Hydrogen Star
PK 64+5.1, or Campbell’s Hydrogen Star, a tiny but surprisingly bright object located about 2.5° north of Albireo.
FU Orionis
In late 1936, a 16th-magnitude star erupted in the constellation Orion, and by early the next year it had attained 10th magnitude – that is a brightening by a factor of over 250!