In 2025, stargazers can look forward to a series of exciting celestial wonders.
Exciting Astronomical Events in 2025
- January 18: Saturn and Venus “Converge”
- March 14: Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
- March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse
- June 26: Moon and Mercury Meet
- August 12: Venus and Jupiter Come Close
- September 7: Another Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
- September 19: The Moon, Venus, and Regulus “Embrace” in the Sky
- November 8: Saturn’s Rings Disappear
- December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks
- Viewing the Aurora Borealis in 2025
January 18: Saturn and Venus “Converge”
The year of wonders in the sky kicks off with a beautiful pair of planets. On January 18, the neighboring worlds of Venus and Saturn will appear less than half a degree apart in the sky, about 30-45 minutes after sunset. Look to the southwest to find the two shining planets. Venus will be the brighter of the two, glowing with a brilliant white light, while Saturn will appear slightly dimmer and more yellow.
March 14: Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
Witness the Moon glowing red in the early morning of March 14. The “Blood Moon” effect occurs only during a full moon when the Sun, Earth, and Moon align, allowing Earth’s shadow to blanket the Moon in the sky. Stargazers across the Americas can expect a spectacular view of this event, weather permitting.
During the total lunar eclipse, light is refracted through Earth’s atmosphere, creating a brilliant glow on the surface of the Moon (as seen in this photo taken in 2022 in Portugal). (Source: National Geographic).
March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse
The partial solar eclipse on March 29 will make the Sun appear as a crescent shape, visible across vast regions of North America, Europe, Northern Asia, and Northwest Africa. This event begins at 4:50 AM Eastern Time. By 6:47 AM Eastern Time, most of the Sun will be obscured by the Moon.
June 26: Moon and Mercury Meet
Have you ever spotted the planet closest to the Sun? Mercury is often difficult to detect due to its proximity to the Sun and its bright glare. On June 26, this planet will be “easier to see” as it appears next to our Moon.
Look to the western sky just after sunset, about 20-30 minutes before the twilight completely fades. Mercury will shine as a faint point visible to the naked eye, just three degrees adjacent to the slender crescent of the Moon.
August 12: Venus and Jupiter Come Close
Mark your calendars for an incredible celestial display on the morning of August 12, when the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, appear remarkably close to each other. This is a rare opportunity to observe the two brightest planets side by side.
Look high in the eastern sky at dawn to find the two bright objects, close enough to be seen together through binoculars. Venus will outshine Jupiter with its brilliant white light, while Jupiter will appear slightly dimmer and more yellow.
September 7: Another Total Lunar Eclipse and Blood Moon
Earthlings will have a second chance to witness a Blood Moon in 2025, as a total lunar eclipse blankets Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania on the evening of September 7.
Earth’s shadow will begin to gradually cover the Moon’s surface at 12:27 PM Eastern Time, while the totality phase will occur from 1:30 PM to 2:52 PM Eastern Time.
This image captures the moment the supermoon starts to glow with a red hue from beneath Earth’s shadow, viewed from the Dark Sky Alqueva Reserve, Portugal. (Source: National Geographic)
During the total lunar eclipse, sunlight passes through Earth’s dusty atmosphere, bending towards the red part of the spectrum and illuminating the surface of the Moon, causing it to appear “bathed” in a strange orange-red light.
September 19: The Moon, Venus, and Regulus “Embrace” in the Sky
A stunning trio of celestial bodies will dominate the sky on the morning of September 19. Look towards the east about 45 minutes before sunrise to see the slender crescent Moon, brilliant Venus, and the bright star Regulus forming a striking triangle. Venus, the brightest object after the Moon, will shine like a diamond, while Regulus glows nearby in a majestic blue-white hue.
November 8: Saturn’s Rings Disappear
The iconic rings of Saturn are what we anticipate when gazing at this giant planet. However, in early November, Saturn will temporarily lose its fame as its rings will appear edge-on.
This rare event occurs every 15 years when the tilt of Saturn aligns with Earth, causing the rings to become nearly invisible.
December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower Peaks
Each December, Earth passes through a trail of debris left by a disintegrating asteroid, generating a spectacular meteor shower.
In a typical year, the Geminid meteor shower can produce between 60 to 120 meteors per hour during its peak days—December 13-14. This year promises to be particularly good for the Geminid meteor shower, as its peak coincides with dark skies and no moonlight.
Viewing the Aurora Borealis in 2025
Last October, representatives from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the International Solar Cycle Prediction Panel announced that the Sun has reached its peak activity phase and may continue into the following year.
Throughout 2025, we can expect heightened solar activity. This will undoubtedly increase the chances of witnessing strong and vibrant auroras in the sky.
