Top 17 Rare Astronomical Events in 2025
Want to see the most spectacular celestial events of 2025 — including bright planets, Blood Moons, and meteor showers? Use the Sky Tonight app: it will show you when any of these events will occur in your exact location. Keep reading to learn about all of the must-see events.
Contents
Best astronomy events in 2025
- 1. Quadrantid Meteor Shower’s Peak on January 2-3
- 2. Close Approach of Saturn and Moon, Lunar Occultation of Saturn on January 4
- 3. Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) at Its Brightest on January 13
- 4. Mars at Its Best on January 16
- 5. Close Approach of Venus and Saturn on January 19
- 6. Alignment of 7 Planets on February 28
- 7. Blood Moon on March 14
- 8. Dual Visibility of Venus on March 18-21
- 9. Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29
- 10. Eta-Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak on May 5-6
- 11. Close Approach of Venus and Jupiter on August 12
- 12. Blood Moon on September 7
- 13. Saturn at Its Best on September 21
- 14. Taurid Swarm on November 3
- 15. The Biggest Full Moon of the Year on November 5
- 16. Close Approach of Venus and Mercury on November 25
- 17. Geminid Meteor Shower’s Peak on December 14
- What events are visible in my sky?
- Best Celestial Events In 2025: Bottom Line
Best astronomy events in 2025
Astronomical events in 2025 include a large planetary parade, a lunar eclipse, meteor showers, and more. Here you’ll find the most prominent events of 2025. To get the full list, see our full 2025 astronomy calendar. Note that the exact timings and visibility of the events depend on your location. Use the calendar in the Sky Tonight app to find the events near you.
1. Quadrantid Meteor Shower’s Peak on January 2-3
The Quadrantids are the first meteor shower of the year and one of the most prolific. At the peak on the night of January 2-3, they can produce up to 110 meteors per hour. The Northern Hemisphere will have the best view, as the radiant in the constellation Bootes will be high in the northern sky. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere may only see a few meteors due to the lower position of the radiant. This year's viewing conditions are ideal — the peak aligns with an 11% illuminated waxing crescent, so moonlight won't interfere with the show.
Learn more about the Quadrantids.
2. Close Approach of Saturn and Moon, Lunar Occultation of Saturn on January 4
On January 4, at 16:56 GMT, Saturn will pass within 0°36' of the Moon. This is the closest approach of Saturn and the Moon until 2031! Our natural satellite will be 24.7% illuminated, and Saturn will shine at magnitude 1.1. Both objects will be visible to the naked eye from both hemispheres.
In addition, from 14:57 to 18:44 GMT, the Moon will hide Saturn in certain locations – a lunar occultation will be visible over Europe, Africa, western Russia, and eastern Greenland.
Learn more about Saturn and its upcoming events.
3. Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) at Its Brightest on January 13
Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) may reach naked-eye visibility near its perihelion on January 13, with a predicted peak magnitude of 0.6. Best seen from the Southern Hemisphere, it will remain low on the horizon for northern viewers. There is also a possibility that it won't survive perihelion, or that it will remain too close to the Sun to be easily seen. We'll keep you updated on its journey!
Read more about C/2024 G3 (ATLAS).
4. Mars at Its Best on January 16
January 16 is the best time to see Mars, as it will shine at its biggest and brightest in the night sky and remain visible throughout the night. It will have a magnitude of -1.4 and a visual diameter of 14.6 arcseconds. This event, known as Mars opposition, occurs only once every 780 days, making it a must-see!
Take a look at our infographic on Mars opposition to see how it all works!
5. Close Approach of Venus and Saturn on January 19
On January 19, two bright planets will meet in the evening sky! At 01:26 GMT, Venus (mag -4.6) and Saturn (mag 1.1) will pass within 2°12′ of each other in the constellation Aquarius. Both planets will be visible to the naked eye for a few hours after sunset. Plus, they’ll join a planetary alignment around January 21, which will also include Mars, Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune.
Check out our infographic to learn what a planetary alignment is and how to spot the next one.
6. Alignment of 7 Planets on February 28
In the evenings around February 28, look up to see seven planets gracing the sky at once! Five of them — Saturn, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars — will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require a pair of binoculars to view.
Known as a planetary alignment or planetary parade, this event is a great time to observe and photograph the planets. Read our article to learn the science behind this celestial line-up and tips on how to make the most of it.
7. Blood Moon on March 14
On March 14, from 06:26 to 07:31 GMT, a total lunar eclipse will occur. During this event, the Earth blocks the Sun’s direct light from reaching the Moon. However, some sunlight is refracted by the Earth's atmosphere, which filters out blue light so that only red light reaches the Moon. This gives the Moon a deep red hue, known as the "Blood Moon" effect.
The total lunar eclipse will be visible over North and South America. Some other regions will see a partial eclipse.
Do you know all the differences between a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse? Test your knowledge with our fun quiz!
8. Dual Visibility of Venus on March 18-21
Venus is called the "evening star" and the "morning star," depending on when it appears. But this March, something rare will happen! Around its inferior conjunction with the Sun on March 23, Venus will be visible in both the morning and evening skies for a few days in the Northern Hemisphere.
This happens because this inferior conjunction of Venus coincides with the moment when its ecliptic latitude is very high, up to 8.4° north. In addition, in late March in the Northern Hemisphere, the ecliptic makes a steep angle with the horizon in the evening and sits low down in the morning. In other words, the Sun sets quickly in the evening and rises slowly in the morning. Because of this arrangement, Venus is still visible in the evening sky just before the inferior conjunction and begins to be visible in the morning sky as well a few days before the conjunction. This is a rare event, next time it will occur only in 2033.
Read more about Venus and its upcoming events.
9. Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29
On March 29, starting from 08:50 GMT, a partial solar eclipse will occur. It will be visible for parts of the northeastern United States, eastern Canada, Greenland, Europe, Northwest Africa, and northwestern Russia. At its peak, the eclipse will reach a magnitude of 0.9376, meaning the Moon will nearly cover the Sun — though a thin solar crescent will still be visible. Remember to use solar filters with telescopes or binoculars, and always wear eclipse glasses for direct viewing to protect your eyes from serious harm!
Learn more about solar eclipses.
10. Eta-Aquariid Meteor Shower Peak on May 5-6
The Eta Aquariid meteor shower is best seen in the Southern Hemisphere, though it can also be observed up to around 40°N latitude. In 2025, it will peak on May 5-6. During the peak, you might see up to 50 meteors per hour. The meteor shower’s radiant rises in the pre-dawn hours and reaches its highest point around 8 a.m. local time. Known for producing long-lasting meteor trails, the Eta Aquariids promise a stunning display for early risers.
Learn more about Eta-Aquariids.
11. Close Approach of Venus and Jupiter on August 12
On August 12, at 05:30 GMT, Venus and Jupiter will be just 0° 52′ apart (you can cover them both with your outstretched little finger). See them on the eastern horizon before sunrise. Venus will shine brightly at magnitude -4, while Jupiter will be a little fainter at magnitude -1.9, but still visible to the naked eye.
Read more about planetary conjunctions is 2025.
12. Blood Moon on September 7
The second total lunar eclipse of 2025 will take place on September 7, from 17:30 to 18:52 GMT. The total eclipse will be visible from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe, some other regions will see a partial eclipse. This will be the longest total lunar eclipse since 2022, lasting a whopping 1 hour and 22 minutes!
Read more about lunar eclipses.
13. Saturn at Its Best on September 21
On September 21, Saturn will reach its best visibility of the year. This event is called opposition, as the planet is located right opposite the Sun in the sky. Saturn will shine at a magnitude of 0.6 and will stay in the sky throughout the night.
Even after opposition, keep an eye on Saturn! You'll notice that its rings will get thinner each night, reaching their thinnest on November 23. Even though the rings won't be completely edge-on, they will look like a fine line from our perspective.
Learn more about Saturn and its upcoming events.
14. Taurid Swarm on November 3
Two branches of the Taurid meteor shower, the Southern and Northern Taurids, reach their peak in early November. The Southern Taurids peak on November 5 with up to 7 meteors per hour, while the Northern Taurids peak on November 12 with up to 5 meteors per hour. While these meteor rates may seem low, 2025 is a special "Taurid swarm" year, which means you could catch more bright meteors and fireballs. Keep your eyes on the sky for about a week around November 3 to get the best of the show! The Full Moon on November 5 could make observations trickier, so try to find a spot where the Moon is blocked by buildings, trees, or other objects. This will help you avoid the bright moonlight and spot more meteors.
Learn more about the Taurid meteor shower.
15. The Biggest Full Moon of the Year on November 5
The Full Moon on November 5 will be the biggest Supermoon of the year! It will appear 7.9% larger and 16% brighter than an average Full Moon. Will you notice the difference with the naked eye? Maybe not — but there are some tricks to help you spot it! Check out our article for all the details and science behind Supermoons.
Learn more about the November Supermoon.
16. Close Approach of Venus and Mercury on November 25
On November 25, at 01:52 GMT, Venus and Mercury will come within 0° 59' of each other. The pair will be visible on the eastern horizon for about an hour before sunrise. Venus will shine at a magnitude of -3.9, while Mercury will have a magnitude of 2.0.
Read more about planetary conjunctions is 2025.
17. Geminid Meteor Shower’s Peak on December 14
The most prolific meteor shower of 2025 is coming at the end of the year! The Geminids will peak on December 14, producing up to 150 meteors per hour. The waning crescent Moon (27% illuminated) won’t hinder the view.
What events are visible in my sky?
This article highlights the year's best celestial events for anywhere on Earth. However, the exact times and directions for these events will depend on your location, and some, such as eclipses and occultations, may only be visible in certain regions. If you want to check whether an event will be visible in your area, the Sky Tonight app offers a simple solution:
- Open the app's calendar and browse upcoming events by date.
- Tap on the event that you are interested in. See the exact time, visibility (if it's not visible in your location, you'll see a note), and other details.
- Use the target button to see how the event appears in your sky map.
- Tap the compass button or point your device at the sky, and the app's arrow will guide you to the location of the event in the sky above you, making it easy to plan your stargazing.
Best Celestial Events In 2025: Bottom Line
2025 is packed with amazing events for stargazers! Plan your stargazing with our Sky Tonight and Eclipse Guide apps, and challenge yourself to catch as many as you can. We've also created a colorful infographic featuring the best events in 2025 — check it out and share with your friends. Want to explore even more? Take a look at our full 2025 astronomy calendar.
Happy stargazing!
