Your Ultimate Guide To Stargazing And Astronomy In 2025
The last year saw a total solar eclipse in North America, stunning global displays of the aurora and a naked-eye comet. Can 2025 compete?
From a couple of “blood moon” lunar eclipses to dark sky meteor showers and rare planetary alignments, the night sky won’t disappoint.
With 2025 the peak of the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, expect intense geomagnetic storms that fuel auroras. Yes, they may well reach the U.S. and Europe, but if you want the best chance of having the best views for over a decade, get yourself to high-latitude regions like Alaska, Iceland, northern Norway, northern Finland, and northern Sweden.
Here’s your definitive guide to the most exciting stargazing events of 2025.
1. Full Wolf Moon Occults Mars
When: Jan. 13-14, 2025
Just a few nights shy of opposition, Mars will be briefly occulted by a near-full moon. Visit In-The-Sky.org for exact times for all locations. In the U.S., it will take place between 9:00-11:00 p.m. EST).
2. Mars at Opposition
When: Jan. 15, 2025
Mars will glow a bright golden color all January, on either side of its opposition — its closest alignment with Earth. This once-every-26-month event offers excellent views of the red planet’s surface details through a telescope.
3. Planet Parade
When: Jan. 25, 2025
Although Venus, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars will be easy to see right now with the naked eye — and will continue to be in January — this date is being touted as the best night to see the “planet parade.” It’s certainly the last best chance because the moon will be gone from the early evening sky, and Saturn will soon transit into the pre-dawn sky. If you have a telescope, Neptune will be close to Venus and Uranus close to Jupiter.
4. Venus at Its Brilliant Best
When: Feb. 19, 2025
Venus — barreling towards Earth as it catches up on its shorter, faster journey around the sun — will shine tonight at a breathtaking magnitude of -4.5, making it the brightest object in the night sky after the moon. That’s despite it being a slim crescent.
5. Total Lunar Eclipse (And Northern Lights?)
When: March 13–14, 2025
Witness the moon turn reddish as it passes through Earth’s inner umbral shadow for the first time since late 2022. North America will enjoy the best views of this eerie phenomenon, with totality lasting 65 minutes in the middle of the night. Could aurora strike, too? It could be an incredible night with the full moon blotted out for an hour.
6. ‘Solar Max’ Northern Lights At Equinox
When: the weeks around March 20 and September 22, 2025
Solar maximum in 2025 means more frequent and vivid auroras. However, the geomagnetic storms that produce them tend to be more frequent and intense around the equinoxes. Keep your eyes peeled and your travel plans fluid.
7. Partial Solar Eclipse
When: March 29 and Sept. 21, 2025
A dramatic sunrise eclipse awaits skywatchers in northeastern North America on March 29. Depending on your location, the moon will obscure up to 94% of the sun. Europe will see it mid-morning, and North America will see it at sunrise — cue a chance for a rare crescent sunrise. A second partial solar eclipse on September 21 will be visible from New Zealand and parts of Antarctica.
8. Lyrid Meteor Shower
When: April 21–22, 2025
Known for its bright fireballs, the Lyrids will streak across a moonless sky. Expect up to 20 meteors per hour during its peak.
9. Eta Aquariid Meteor Shower
When: May 6–7, 2025
Halley’s Comet’s annual legacy is the Eta Aquariids, a meteor shower best viewed in the Southern Hemisphere, though Northern Hemisphere observers can still enjoy the show.
10. Venus and Jupiter Conjunction
When: Aug. 12, 2025
Don’t miss this celestial duet as the two brightest planets appear just one degree apart in the pre-dawn sky. Their combined brilliance will be mesmerizing.
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11. Saturn at Opposition
When: Sept. 21, 2025
Saturn will dominate the night sky as it reaches opposition. Though its iconic rings appear edge-on this year, they will remain a stunning sight through a telescope.
12. Draconid Meteor Shower
When: October 8–9, 2025
This unique meteor shower peaks after sunset, offering an early evening treat. While it’s usually modest, the Draconids may surprise with sudden outbursts.
13. Biggest Supermoon Of 2025
When: November 5, 2025
Get ready for the biggest and brightest supermoon of the year. This will be the closest the moon has been to Earth since 2019, making for a stunning sight at moonrise. Expect hype — and a beautiful celestial sight.
14. Leonid Meteor Shower
When: Nov. 17–18, 2025
Known for its periodic meteor storms, this year’s Leonids will feature about 15 meteors per hour under dark skies. A slim crescent moon ensures excellent viewing conditions.
Featured image credit: Image by Pexels from Pixabay
Originally published on Forbes.com.
