Major Celestial Events of 2025

Astronomy enthusiasts, prepare for an exciting year ahead.
This month-by-month guide highlights the major celestial events of 2025, with a focus on optimal viewing conditions for observers in Southern California. From solar and lunar eclipses to meteor showers, planetary conjunctions, and supermoons, 2025 presents a dynamic range of astronomical phenomena. Whether tracking planetary alignments or capturing deep-sky events through a telescope, this year offers exceptional opportunities to explore and appreciate the evolving cosmos.

🌟 January 2025

• Quadrantid Meteor Shower (Jan 2–3): This meteor shower peaks with up to 120 meteors per hour. Best viewed after midnight under dark skies. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)
• Planetary Parade (Jan 1–4): A rare alignment where all seven planets are visible in the sky simultaneously. (Texas skies to dazzle in January with rare planetary alignment beginning Friday)
• Mars Occultation by the Moon (Jan 13): The Moon passes directly in front of Mars, temporarily obscuring it from view.
• Venus–Saturn Conjunction (Jan 17–18): Venus and Saturn appear very close together in the evening sky. (Meteor showers, northern lights and supermoons:)

🌕 February 2025

• Planetary Parade Continues (Feb 28): All seven other planets in the solar system appear aligned in the sky. (From Saturn’s once-in-a-decade disappearing rings to intense Northern Lights – five must-see space spectacles for 2025)

🌑 March 2025

• Total Lunar Eclipse (Mar 14): The Moon passes through Earth’s shadow, turning a deep red color.
• Saturn’s Rings Disappear (Mar): Saturn’s rings appear edge-on from Earth, making them nearly invisible. (From Saturn’s once-in-a-decade disappearing rings to intense Northern Lights – five must-see space spectacles for 2025)
• Partial Solar Eclipse (Mar 29): The Moon partially covers the Sun, creating a noticeable dimming.

🌠 April 2025

• Lyrid Meteor Shower (Apr 21–22): An annual meteor shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)
• Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Begins (Apr 20): This meteor shower, originating from Halley’s Comet, becomes active, peaking in early May. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)

🌌 May 2025

• Eta Aquarid Meteor Shower Peak (May 3–4): A meteor shower with up to 50 meteors per hour, best viewed in the pre-dawn hours. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)

🌟 June 2025

• Summer Solstice (Jun 21): The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

🌠 July 2025

• Southern Delta Aquarid Meteor Shower (Jul 29–30): A meteor shower producing up to 25 meteors per hour. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)
• Alpha Capricornid Meteor Shower (Jul 29–30): A meteor shower known for bright fireballs. (Starwatch: Lyrid meteor showers to grace skies with annual stellar show)

🌠 August 2025

• Perseid Meteor Shower (Aug 12–13): One of the most popular meteor showers, producing up to 100 meteors per hour. (April Will Have 2 Meteor Showers Happening Simultaneously – How to Watch the Rare Spectacle)

🌕 September 2025

• Total Lunar Eclipse (Sep 7): Another opportunity to witness the Moon turning red as it passes through Earth’s shadow.

🌕 October 2025

• Supermoon (Oct 6): The Moon appears larger and brighter as it reaches its closest point to Earth.
• Orionid Meteor Shower (Oct 22–23): A meteor shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour.

🌕 November 2025

• Supermoon (Nov 5): Another close approach of the Moon, making it appear larger and brighter.
• Leonid Meteor Shower (Nov 16–17): A meteor shower known for producing bright meteors.

🌕 December 2025

• Supermoon (Dec 4): The third and final supermoon of the year. (From eclipses to supermoons, here are some of the space events happening in 2025)
• Geminid Meteor Shower (Dec 13–14): One of the best meteor showers, producing up to 120 meteors per hour.
• Ursid Meteor Shower (Dec 21–22): A meteor shower producing up to 10 meteors per hour. (Meteor Shower calendar 2025: Key dates and moonlight viewing conditions)

Be sure to visit This Month’s Sky to find the best times, locations, and conditions for events throughout the year.