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A total lunar eclipse behind the Colorado State Capitol building on September 27, 2015, in Denver, ...
[+] Colorado. (Photo by (NASA/Bill Ingalls) 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.
Quadrantid Meteor Shower When: Jan. 3–4, 2025 Kick off the year with this brilliant (and much underrated) meteor display. Under dark, moonless skies, the Quadrantids promise between 25 to 200 meteors per hour.
Apple Cancels iPhone 14 And iPhone SE For Millions Of Customers Today’s NYT Mini Crossword Clues And Answers For Tuesday, December 31st What We Know About Jimmy Carter’s State Funeral Next Week 2. 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). 3. 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. Mars at opposition in 2005.
Photograph by Jamie Cooper. (Photo by SSPL/Getty Images) 4. 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.
5. 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. 6.
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.
The aurora borealis fills the sky with pink and blue waves of color over a farmhouse in Mercer, ...
[+] Maine on May 11, 2024. (Photo by Michael Seamans/Getty Images) 7. ‘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. 8.
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. 9.
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. 10.
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. BRILL, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 20: Jupiter and Saturn are seen coming together in the night sky, over ..
. [+] the sails of Brill windmill, for what is known as the Great Conjunction, on December 20, 2020 in Brill, England. The planetary conjunction is easily visible in the evening sky and will culminate on the night of December 21.
This is the closest the planets have appeared for nearly 800 years. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images) 11. 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. 12.
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.
13. 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.
14. 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. 15. 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. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
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