The universe, with footnotes

Curiosity looks good on you.

Real astronomy and thoughtful gift ideas. No invented science, no invented authority.

A galaxy is a vast system of stars, gas and dust, held together by gravity. Dark matter also contributes to the gravitational structure. Our Sun …

Spiral galaxies have discs and arms; elliptical galaxies range from rounded to stretched shapes; irregular galaxies do not fit a neat outline. Le…

Beauty has no astronomical ranking. Our shortlist favours memorable structure, beautiful observational imagery and a story worth sharing.…

There is no single tidy way to measure a galaxy. A bright stellar disc, a faint outer halo and material detected at other wavelengths can produce…

When astronomers observe a very distant galaxy, they see light emitted long ago. Looking farther into space also means looking deeper into the hi…

For the person who can identify a constellation before finding their car keys, a personalised galaxy print pairs visual impact with an actual ast…

A galaxy will not fit in a birthday card. Its personalised artwork will fit beautifully into a gift. Choose a name, a message and a date that mea…

A shared universe deserves a suitably expansive gesture. Give your chosen galaxy a name connected to your story and pair it with a dedication you…

For someone who deserves more than a last-minute bunch of flowers, try a beautiful image of a real galaxy with a very personal, very unofficial d…

Give the newlyweds a print with their names, their date and a dedication for the home they are building together. There is no need to negotiate w…

They have the gadgets. The books. The suspiciously extensive coffee equipment. A personalised piece of astronomical art is a different kind of gi…