After 2024 geomagnetic light shows of Aurora Borealis, what can we look forward to in our skies in 2025? Quite a lot, actually.

• January 29 – New Moon: The Moon aligns with the Sun, making it invisible in the night sky. This is an ideal time to observe faint celestial objects, like galaxies and star clusters, since there’s no moonlight to interfere (Sea and Sky).
• February 28 – All planets align in the sky: All seven the neighboring planets in our solar system will align in the sky in what is known as a “planetary parade.” Now, the solar system can’t truly fully align, but when the planets do sync up in their orbits, it’s known as a syzygy. (Smithsonian Magazine)
• March 8 – Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation: Mercury reaches its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky, making it the best time to view the planet. Look for it low in the western sky just after sunset (Sea and Sky).
• March 14 – Total Lunar Eclipse: The Moon passes completely through Earth’s shadow, turning a reddish color. This eclipse will be visible across North and South America, Mexico, and Central America (Sea and Sky).
• March 29 – Partial Solar Eclipse: The Moon covers part of the Sun, creating a “bite” effect. This eclipse will be visible from Greenland, northern Europe, and northern Russia, with 93% coverage in Canada (Smithsonian Magazine).
• May 6-7 – Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower: This above-average meteor shower peaks at up to 60 meteors per hour. Visible mainly in the Southern Hemisphere, it can reach about 30 meteors per hour in the Northern Hemisphere. The waxing gibbous moon may obscure fainter meteors, but brighter ones will still be visible (Royal Observatory).
• July 28-29 – Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower: This average shower peaks at 20 meteors per hour, with the crescent moon setting early, leaving dark skies for optimal viewing after midnight. Meteors radiate from the constellation Aquarius (Sea and Sky).
• August 12 – Jupiter and Venus Conjunction and Perseids Meteor Shower: Jupiter and Venus will appear side by side in the sky. The Perseids, one of the best meteor showers, peaks at up to 60 meteors per hour, although the waning gibbous moon will obscure some of the fainter meteors (Royal Observatory).
• September 21 – Saturn Opposition: Saturn will be closest to Earth in its orbit, offering an ideal opportunity for viewing the planet. From Earth’s view, Saturn’s rings will “disappear.” Now, the rings aren’t actually going anywhere, but from March to November of 2025, they will be oriented edge-on toward Earth, making them difficult to see. (The Planetary Society)
• October 21-22 – Orionids Meteor Shower: Producing up to 20 meteors per hour, this shower peaks on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. The absence of moonlight will make for ideal viewing conditions, especially after midnight (Smithsonian Magazine).
• November 5 – Supermoon: The first supermoon of the year will happen in October, November, and December. This is when the full moon is closest to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual. November will be the brightest of the three at 221,965 miles away (Smithsonian Magazine).
• December 13 – Geminid Meteor Shower: Known as the king of meteor showers, the Geminids produce up to 120 colorful meteors per hour at their peak. The second-quarter moon may block some fainter meteors, but the shower’s high number ensures a great display. Best viewed after midnight from a dark location (The Planetary Society).

Keep your eyes out for these events this year! The best place to see sky events is in the countryside, away from the light pollution of cities. Bring a friend and make an event out of it!