Astronomy Community

Last Updated November 11, 2025

Cloudy Nights Membership

Cloudy Nights, a prominent US-based forum for amateur astronomers, has around 180,000 members as of 2025. It's known for in-depth discussions on telescopes, observing, and equipment reviews, with high traffic (global ranking around 42,000 according to SimilarWeb). The site features active subforums like "Beginners Forum" and "Equipment," with millions of posts overall. Visit Cloudy Nights for real-time stats, or see analytics from SimilarWeb and The Hive Index.

Stargazers Lounge Membership

Based on recent data from astronomy community aggregators, Stargazers Lounge, one of the largest online astronomy forums, has approximately 72,000 members as of 2025. It's a UK-based community run by First Light Optics, focusing on discussions ranging from beginner advice to astrophotography and equipment. The forum is highly active, with sections like "The Astro Lounge" boasting nearly 400,000 posts. For the most up-to-date count, you can check their homepage directly Stargazers Lounge or community trackers like The Hive Index.

Astronomy Magazine

Billed as the world's best-selling astronomy magazine (since 1973), this one is more visually oriented with stunning photos, expert reporting on space science, and beginner-friendly sky coverage. It's published by Firecrown Media and caters to all levels, from novices to experts, with a focus on timely topics like exoplanets, space missions, and gear reviews.

  • Membership/Subscription: Digital access starts at around $42.99/year (includes archives and bonus content). Single issues are available via Zinio or the official site. The full 2025 lineup is indexed on their website.
  • Why It's Great for Amateurs: It offers spot-on observing tips, astrophotography gear guides, and "Ask Astro" Q&A sections. The site includes free resources like "This Week in Astronomy" and a community forum for sharing images.

Sky & Telescope Magazine

This monthly magazine has been a staple since 1941, focusing on amateur astronomy with practical guides, sky charts, and news on celestial events. It's published by AAS Sky Publishing (a subsidiary of the American Astronomical Society) and emphasizes observing, telescope making, and community events. As of 2025, it continues to cover topics like interstellar comets, galaxy observations, and DIY projects—perfect for backyard stargazers.

  • Current Highlights (November 2025 Issue): Features include a tour of the life cycle of stars, ring galaxies, and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) retrofit. There's also a podcast on fascinating stars and guides for this week's sky (e.g., spotting Comet 3I/ATLAS with a large amateur telescope).
  • Membership/Subscription: Starts at $29/year for digital access (includes full website and archives). Print issues are available via ShopAtSky.com, with single copies like the September 2025 issue at $9.99.
  • Why It's Great for Amateurs: It includes interactive sky charts, event calendars (e.g., open evenings at observatories), and a community gallery for user-submitted photos. The website has free tools like an interactive star chart and club finder.
  • Sky & Telescope Official Site – Main hub for news, podcasts, and subscriptions.

Other Popular Forums for Amateur Astronomers

There are many vibrant online communities for amateur astronomers, ranging from general discussion boards to specialized groups. Based on recent rankings from sources like FeedSpot and The Hive Index (as of 2025), here are some of the top ones beyond Stargazers Lounge and Cloudy Nights. I've prioritized active, well-regarded forums with significant membership and focused on those emphasizing amateur astronomy, equipment, observing, and astrophotography:

  1. AstroBin (~50,000 members) - A social network and image-hosting platform for astrophotographers. Great for sharing images and discussing gear. AstroBin.
  2. Reddit r/Astronomy (2.6 million members) - A massive subreddit for all things astronomy, including beginner questions, news, and telescope advice. Very active with daily posts. r/Astronomy.
  3. Reddit r/Telescopes (Unknown exact count, but highly active) - Focused specifically on telescopes, buying guides, and troubleshooting. Ideal for equipment discussions. r/Telescopes.
  4. British Astronomical Association (BAA) Forum (~3,000 members) - A professional-amateur hybrid with sections on telescopes, observing, and events. Strong UK focus. BAA Forum.
  5. Astromart Forums - Classifieds-heavy but with active discussions on telescopes and observing. Popular for buying/selling gear. Astromart.
  6. IceInSpace - Australian-based forum with global reach, emphasizing southern hemisphere astronomy and equipment. IceInSpace.
  7. Physics Forums - Astrophysics - Science-oriented discussions on astronomy topics, including telescopes and cosmology. Physics Forums.
  8. Society for Popular Astronomy (SPA) Forum - UK-focused with threads on telescopes, light pollution, and events. SPA Forum.
  9. Backyard Astronomy Space - A polite, beginner-friendly forum with sections on telescopes and DIY projects. Backyard Astronomy.
  10. Orbiter-Forum - Astronomy & the Night Sky - Discusses space flight, telescopes, and astrophotography. Orbiter-Forum.

For more comprehensive lists, check out FeedSpot's Top 30 Astronomy Forums or The Hive Index's Best Astronomy Communities. If you're looking for Discord-based groups, options like Spacecord (~6,000 members) or Science and Technology (~40,000 members) offer real-time chat on astronomy topics The Hive Index. Many of these forums are free to join and cater to beginners through experts.