Astronomy This Month: Celestial Events in January 2025
Kick-off 2025 with January's breathtaking astronomical events! In this guide, you'll find the full stargazing forecast for January, including a spectacular meteor shower, a possible naked-eye comet, planets shining brightest, and more. To easily find celestial objects in the sky, use the free Sky Tonight astronomy app. Let's get started!
Contents
- All astronomical events in January 2025
- Moon phases in January 2025
- Planets in January 2025
- Lunar and planetary conjunctions in January 2025
- Constellations in January 2025
- Meteor showers in January 2025
- Comets in January 2025
- How do I navigate the night sky tonight from my location?
- Bottom line: night sky in January 2025
All astronomical events in January 2025
Please note that we provide the event dates in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time). For your location, the exact dates may vary. To find out the time and date of the event for your city, use the Sky Tonight astronomy app.
- January 3: Moon passes 1°18' from Venus (mag -4.5); Quadrantids’ peak (ZHR = 110). 🌟
- January 4: Earth passes perihelion; lunar occultation of Saturn (mag 1.1). 🌟
- January 5: Lunar occultation of Neptune (mag 7.9).
- January 6: First Quarter Moon.
- January 9: Moon passes 4°17' from Uranus (mag 5.7).
- January 10: Moon passes 0°18' from Pleiades (mag 1.2) and 5°22' from Jupiter (mag -2.7); Venus at greatest elongation east. 🌟
- January 12: Mars (mag -1.4) closest to Earth; Venus at dichotomy.
- January 13: Moon passes 2°12' from Pollux (mag 1.2); Full Moon 🌟; C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) passes perihelion and perigee. 🌟
- January 14: Lunar occultation of Mars (mag -1.4); Moon passes 2°42' from the Beehive Cluster (mag 3.1).
- January 16: Mars (mag -1.6) at opposition 🌟; Moon passes 2°24′ from Regulus (mag 1.4).
- January 18: Venus (mag -4.6) passes 2°12' from Saturn (mag 1.1). 🌟
- January 19: Gamma-Ursae Minorids’ peak (ZHR = 3.
- January 21: Last Quarter Moon; lunar occultation of Spica (mag 1.0); large planetary alignment. 🌟
- January 23: Mars (mag -1.3) passes 2°24' from Pollux (mag 1.2).
- January 24: Lunar occultation of Antares (mag 1.1).
- January 28: Moon passes 2°27' from Mercury (mag -0.8).
- January 29: New Moon (Lunar New Year). 🌟
- January 30: Uranus ends retrograde motion.
- January 31: Jupiter (mag -2.5) passes 5°12′ from Aldebaran (mag 0.9).
*The highlighted events are the outstanding events of the month.
About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.
Moon phases in January 2025
- First Quarter: January 6, 23:56 GMT
- Full Moon: January 13, 22:27 GMT
- Last Quarter: January 21, 20:31 GMT
- New Moon: January 29, 12:36 GMT
Want to see what the Moon looks like tonight from your city? Check out the interactive Moon Phases section on our website! Explore a detailed lunar calendar with Moon phases for any day you choose, along with moonrise and moonset times and science facts about each lunar phase.
🌟 January Full Moon 2025 — Full Wolf Moon
On January 13, at 22:27 GMT, the Moon will reach its full phase; at that moment, it will be in the constellation Gemini. Don’t worry if you miss the exact moment of the Full Moon, the lunar disk will appear fully illuminated for one day before and after it.
The Full Moon in January is often called the Wolf Moon. This tradition comes from Native American tribes: on cold January nights, the howling of wolves could be heard around villages. Of course, other cultures have different names for the January Full Moon.
Learn more: Full Wolf Moon.
🌟 January New Moon 2025 — Lunar New Year
On January 29, at 12:36 GMT, the New Moon will occur. This is the best time for stargazing, as the moonlight doesn’t wash out the faint celestial objects.
This January’s New Moon is extra special because it marks the beginning of the Lunar (or Chinese) New Year! On January 29, the Year of the Snake begins according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The Lunar New Year is celebrated on the second New Moon after the winter solstice and is an important holiday not only in China but in many other Asian countries.
Learn more: Lunar New Year
Planets in January 2025
Northern Hemisphere
Mercury (mag -0.5) is visible during the pre-dawn hours. It stays low near the southeastern horizon, glowing against the morning twilight. The planet travels from the constellation Ophiuchus to Sagittarius to Capricornus throughout the month.
Venus (mag -4.7) is well-placed for observation, reaching its farthest distance from the Sun this month. It shines brightly as an "evening star" in the southwestern sky for a few hours after sunset. The planet moves through Aquarius into Pisces by the end of January.
Mars (mag -1.4) dominates the night sky, visible all night long, as it reaches the opposition to the Sun this month. The planet moves from Cancer to Gemini by the end of January.
Jupiter (mag -2.5) is visible in the evening and nighttime hours, setting a little earlier each night. The planet is located in the constellation Taurus.
Saturn (mag 1.2) is visible in the southern sky in the early evening and becomes harder to see against the sunset light towards the end of the month. The planet is in the constellation Aquarius.
Uranus (mag 5.6) can be spotted during the evening and night, at the border of the constellations Taurus and Aries. Use binoculars or a telescope for a better view of this distant planet. Uranus will be close to the open star cluster Pleiades throughout the month, which is a good reference point for searching for the planet.
Neptune (mag 7.9) is observable in the early evenings during the first half of the month, located in Pisces, near the star Lambda Piscium (mag 4.5), which is a convenient reference point for searching for the planet. Use binoculars or a telescope to see Neptune. As January progresses, it will set earlier and become harder to spot.
Southern Hemisphere
Mercury (mag -0.5) shines low in the southeastern sky in the early mornings. It’s best observed during the first half of the month for a couple of hours before sunrise in the constellation Ophiuchus. Then it moves to Sagittarius and to Capricornus by the end of the month.
Venus (mag -4.7) is well-placed as the "evening star" throughout the month. Look for it shining brightly in the western sky after sunset as it moves through the constellations Aquarius and Pisces.
Mars (mag -1.4) is visible during the night and early morning in the constellation Cancer at the beginning of January. By mid-month, it becomes a prominent all-night object, moving into Gemini and continuing to shine during the evenings and nights towards the end of the month.
Jupiter (mag -2.5) is visible in the evening and nighttime sky, located in the constellation Taurus.
Saturn (mag 1.2) is visible in the early evening sky, low in the west, located in the constellation Aquarius. It sets shortly after the Sun as the month progresses.
Uranus (mag 5.6) is visible in the evening and at night at the border of the constellations Taurus and Aries at the beginning of the month. In mid to late January it is best seen in the evenings, primarily in Aries. A telescope or binoculars are recommended to view this distant planet.
Neptune (mag 7.9) is visible in the evenings of the first half of January in the constellation Pisces. You'll need binoculars or a telescope to see it. Neptune sets earlier each night and moves closer to the western horizon as the month progresses.
🌟 Best time to see Venus on January 10
On January 10, Venus will appear farthest from the Sun on the sky’s dome, at a distance of 47°12'. This is the best time to see the brightest planet! Look for it on the western horizon for a few hours after sunset. This event is called the greatest elongation — read more about it in our dedicated article.
🌟 Best planet of January: Mars in opposition on January 16
Venus may be well-placed this month, but January is even more special for Mars! On January 16, it will be in opposition to the Sun, shining brightest (mag -1.4) and staying visible all night. Oppositions are the prime time to observe the outer planets, and Mars is special — it only reaches opposition about once every 27 months. The next chance to see the Red Planet this bright won't be until 2027. So don't miss out!
Learn more: Mars Opposition Infographic
🌟 6-planet alignment on January 21
Ready to hit the planetary jackpot? Step outside just after sunset on the evening of January 21 to see six planets — Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune, Venus, and Saturn — align in the sky. While Mars, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn are bright enough to see with the naked eye, you'll need binoculars to observe Uranus and Neptune.
Note that the rising times of the planets vary depending on your location. To check if you'll be able to see the planetary alignment on January 21, use the Sky Tonight app to track the planets in your local sky.
Learn more: Planetary Alignments Infographic
Lunar and planetary conjunctions in January 2025
January offers several lunar and planetary conjunctions that you shouldn’t miss.
On January 4, at 17:18 GMT, the 25%-illuminated Moon will pass close to Saturn (mag 1.1) in Aquarius. Plus, a lunar occultation of Saturn will be visible across Europe, Africa, western Russia, and eastern Greenland, starting at 14:57 GMT and ending at 18:44 GMT.
On January 14, at 03:42 GMT, the nearly full Moon will meet Mars (mag -1.4) in Gemini. A lunar occultation of Mars will be observable from the Americas and Africa, starting at 01:44 GMT and ending at 05:53 GMT. Mars will shine particularly bright and high in the sky as it nears opposition.
On January 18 at 16:00 GMT, Saturn (mag 1.1) will pass near Venus (mag -4.6) in Aquarius, with the closest approach of 2°12' occurring at 01:26 GMT on January 19.
All these events are visible to the naked eye, so don’t miss out!
Learn more: Planets Next to the Moon, Planetary Conjunctions
Constellations in January 2025
Northern Hemisphere constellations in January
In the Northern Hemisphere, January is a good time to view such prominent constellations as Orion, Taurus, Canis Major, Gemini, Perseus, and Auriga. These constellations rise high in the sky around 9 p.m. local time, making them easy to observe.
Learn more: Best Constellations of January
Southern Hemisphere constellations in January
In the Southern Hemisphere, the constellations Eridanus, Dorado, Hydrus, Phoenix, and Sculptor are well-placed for observations in January.
🌟 Best constellation of January: Orion
January's top constellation is Orion, best seen in the Northern Hemisphere, but also well-placed for southern latitudes this month. Known as one of the brightest and easiest-to-find constellations, Orion features fiery red Betelgeuse and brilliant bluish-white Rigel — both among the top ten brightest stars in the night sky. The constellation's most iconic feature is Orion's Belt, formed by three stars in a straight line!
Learn more: Orion: the Hunter Constellation
Meteor showers in January 2025
Two meteor showers peak this month:
- Quadrantids on January 2-3 with 110 meteors per hour.
- Gamma-Ursae Minorids on January 19 with only up to 3 meteors per hour.
🌟 Best meteor shower of January: Quadrantids on January 3-4
The Quadrantids are one of the most impressive meteor showers of the year. During their peak on the night of January 3-4, you may see up to 200 meteors per hour, although the average peak rate is closer to 110 — still an incredible show! These meteors often glow yellow and orange and are known for producing bright fireballs.
Learn more: Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Comets in January 2025
The top comet of 2024, C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS), remains visible during morning and evening hours in the Northern Hemisphere. You can spot it at a magnitude of 10–11 using large binoculars or a small telescope.
The periodic comet 333P/LINEAR, part of the Jupiter family, made its closest approach to Earth on December 9, 2024. It’s now visible in the evenings in the western skies of the Northern Hemisphere. At a magnitude of around 12, this comet also requires large binoculars or a small telescope for observation.
You can also try locating C/2022 E2 (ATLAS) at a magnitude of 12. This comet is circumpolar in mid-northern latitudes and can be observed all night in the constellation Cassiopeia.
But the most anticipated comet this January is C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), which reaches perihelion on January 13. Let's take a closer look at it.
🌟 Best comet of January: C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) reaching perihelion & perigee on January 13
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) reaches perihelion and perigee on January 13, when it will pass through the constellation Sagittarius at just 0.094 AU from the Sun. At this point, the comet could brighten to a magnitude of -4.0, making it potentially visible to the naked eye. For Northern Hemisphere observers, it will be low in the morning sky on the perihelion date, while those in the Southern Hemisphere may see it in the evening sky from around January 20.
However, it is possible that the comet will not survive perihelion. If C/2024 G3 is a first-time visitor to the inner Solar System, it puts it at a higher risk of disintegration as it approaches the Sun so closely. Will it shine bright or break up? Only time will tell, but let’s hope for an unforgettable celestial display! To track the comet’s path from your location right now, use the Sky Tonight astronomy app.
Learn more: Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS)
How do I navigate the night sky tonight from my location?
There are several ways to do this:
-
Become a professional astronomer (which can take a long time, FYI).
-
Memorize all the constellations, learn the brightest stars, and get a compass. It's easier than the first option but still requires a lot of effort.
-
Get the Sky Tonight mobile app, which does all these things and more. It only takes a few taps to download and is free to use! This app is an interactive sky map that works for your exact location. It also works offline.
The choice is yours, but we'd stick with option number three!
Bottom line: night sky in January 2025
January is full of celestial wonders for stargazers! From the dazzling planets Mars and Venus at their best to the Quadrantid meteor shower, producing up to 110 meteors per hour on January 3. And if luck is on our side, comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) may become visible to the naked eye. What a stellar start for 2025! Use the Sky Tonight app to set reminders for the events you don’t want to miss.
Discover even more amazing celestial events this year with our infographic of top events in 2025 and the detailed day-by-day calendar for the year.
Happy stargazing!
