11 Exciting Astronomical Events in 2025—and How to See Them

Yahoo

14-02-2025

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There's a variety of astronomical events in 2025 well worth planning a trip around this year—whether that means driving to the closest national park for a meteor shower or booking a cruise to Norway to see the northern lights. Astrotourism is becoming increasingly mainstream—as evidenced during last year's total solar eclipse—meaning more hotels and destinations are catering to travelers with sky-high expectations. Wherever your travels take you on our fair planet, don't forget to look up—there's plenty of sightseeing to do in the sky, too.
Here's a list of cosmic phenomena the skies are offering this year, from those aforementioned meteor showers to lunar eclipses—plus expert tips on how and where to see them. We've organized these can't-miss events by month, so you can align best with your calendar. All times are in UTC; be sure to convert to wherever you're based so you don't miss a thing. Alternatively, you can also use the online tool Time and Date to figure out exactly when an astronomical event is visible from your location in the world.
Meet the author
Dr. Phil Plait is an astronomer, author, and science communicator with a PhD in astronomy at the University of Virginia. He has written four books on astronomy and consulted on space TV shows and movies, including the 2016 hit, Arrival. He was also the head science writer for the first season of Bill Nye Saves the World on Netflix.
The last few days of February provide a nice lineup of the brightest planets in the sky for mid-latitude observers both north and south of the equator (some are calling it a 'planetary parade'). At dusk Mercury appears as a middling bright star very low to the western horizon starting around February 25, and is a bit higher every night until March 8. Saturn is nearby, though much fainter and so low it will be difficult to spot without binoculars, while Venus is a brilliant white beacon somewhat higher up in the sky. By the time the sky is fully dark, bright Jupiter can be seen nearly straight up overhead, and orange-red Mars lower and to the east. During that week the thin crescent moon will also be visible low to the west, punctuating the scene.
Next up, there's a lunar eclipse on March 14 that starts at 05:09 UTC. At that time you'll see the Earth's dark shadow slide over the western side of the moon, slowly eating at it until 06:26 when the eclipse becomes total, and the moon engulfed fully—it may look deeply red or even brown to the eye. That lasts for over an hour, and at 07:31 the eastern part of the moon becomes lit by the sun once again. By 08:48 the entire face of the moon is visible once again. This eclipse will be visible to the Americas, as well as western Europe and Africa.
This year there's no total solar eclipse—when the moon fully covers the sun in the sky—but on March 29 a partial one will grace the extreme northeastern US, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, western Europe, and Scandinavia. Canada gets the best view, with parts of Nunavut seeing up to 90% of the sun covered by the moon, leaving just a thin sliver of our star visible. Check the wonderful Time and Date website for exact timings for the event. Remember, looking at the sun unfiltered can damage your eyes, so make sure you have proper protection. (The American Astronomical Society has a list of vendors that sell eclipse glasses.) Here's our complete solar eclipse guide to planning an international trip around the 2026, 2027, and 2028 total solar eclipses.
During the week of April 12-18 early risers anywhere in the world will get to see an unusual cluster of three planets: Mercury, Venus, and Saturn low to the eastern horizon just before sunrise. You'll want to be out just before the sky starts getting brighter to see them all together. The thin crescent moon passes by on April 24-25, adding an extra thrill.
May 3-5 brings the peak of the Eta Aquarids meteor shower, with up to 50 shooting stars visible per hour. The American Meteor Society has viewing tips and more in their shower FAQ.
On August 12, the two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will be very close together (1 degree, twice the size of the full Moon) in the eastern sky at dawn. They approach each other slowly over many days, so make sure you look every morning for a few days before and after August 12.
September 7 brings the second total lunar eclipse of the year, visible from extreme eastern Africa, most of Asia, western Australia, and Antarctica. The partial eclipse starts at 16:27 and ends at 19:56, with totality from 17:30 to 18:52.
The very thin crescent moon and Venus will make a beautiful pair in the pre-dawn eastern sky on September 19. They will be very close together, and for some locations (extreme northwest Canada and Alaska) the moon will actually pass directly in front of Venus, what astronomers call an occultation—check the International Occultation Timing Association site for local times.
On September 21 there will be a second partial solar eclipse as well. New Zealand will see the sun about 70% covered, though off the coast of Antarctica as much as 85% of the sun will be in eclipse. Again, timing depends on your location so check Time and Date for local specifics.
The wonderful Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13-14, which can produce over 100 meteors per hour. The lead of NASA's Meteoroid Environments Office previously shared his expert tips for catching the Geminid meteor shower—and what exactly makes it so special.
This year is likely to be a good one for aurora hunters, thanks to heightened solar activity. While the northern and southern lights aren't predictable more than a few days in advance, the probability is highest between late September and late March under cloudless, dark skies. Here are some of the best places to see the aurora borealis around the world, plus the best Airbnbs for spotting the northern lights.
Originally Appeared on Condé Nast Traveler
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