For The Stargazers
The 2025 Astronomical Events Calendar
January 3-4: Quadrantids Meteor Shower
It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. At its peak, up to 40 meteors per hour can be seen. It should be an excellent show due to the crescent moon that evening. Best viewing will be after midnight where the meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.
January 10: Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. Venus will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky on this day.
January 13: Full Moon
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. The Full Moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon, Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.
January 16: Mars at Opposition
Mars will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night.
January 29: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
February 12: Full Moon
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This Full Moon was known by Native American tribes as the Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year.
February 28: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
March 8: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky.
March 14: Full Moon
The Moon will be located on the opposite side of the Earth as the Sun and its face will be fully illuminated. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften and the earthworms would reappear. This moon has also been known as the Crown Moon, The Crust Moon, the Sap Moon and the Lenten Moon.
March 14: Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s dark shadow or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then taken on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout all of North America, Mexico, Central America and South America.
March 20: March Equinox
The March Equinox welcomes the first day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The Sun shines directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.
March 29: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun. This partial eclipse will be visible throughout Greenland and most of northern Europe and northern Russia. It will be best seen from Canada with a 93% coverage.
April 13: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers to bloom. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.
April 21: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation from the Sun. It will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
April 22-23: Lyrids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861. The Lyrids is an average shower usually producing about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra but can appear anywhere in the sky.
April 27: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
May 6-7: Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet Halley which was been observed since ancient times. the Eta Aquarids is an above average shower in the Southern Hemisphere it is capable of producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. In the Northern Hemisphere, the rate can reach about 30 meteors per hour. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the sky.
May 12: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance. This moon has also been known as the Corn Planting Moon and the Milk Moon.
May 27: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
May 31: Venus at Greatest Western Elongation
Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky.
June 11: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon because it signaled the time of year to gather ripening fruit. This moon has also been known as the Rose Moon and the Honey Moon.
June 21: June Solstice
The Juine solstice is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Earth’s North Pole will be tilted toward the Sun and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer.
June 25: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
July 4: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. The best time to view Mercury will be in the evening sky.
July 10: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Buck Moon because the male deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year. This moon has also been known as the Thunder Moon and the Hay Moon.
July 24: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
July 28-29: Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by debris left behind by comets Marsden and Kracht. The Delta Aquarids is an average shower that can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Aquarius but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August 9: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish of the Great Lakes. This moon has also been known as the Green Corn Moon and the Grain Moon.
August 12-13: Perseids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by comet Swift-Tuttle, which was discovered in 1862. The Perseids is one of the best meteor showers to observe, producing up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Perseus but can appear anywhere in the sky.
August 19: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
The plant Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation from the Sun. The best time to view Mercury will be in the morning sky.
August 23: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
September 7: Full Moon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year. This moon is also known as the Harvest Moon. The Harvest Moon is the full moon that occurs closest to the September equinox each year.
September 7: Total Lunar Eclipse
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes completely through the Earth’s dark shadow or umbra. During this type of eclipse, the Moon will gradually get darker and then taken on a rusty or blood red color. The eclipse will be visible throughout all of Asia, Australia and the central and eastern parts of Europe and Africa.
September 21: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
September 21: Partial Solar Eclipse
A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun. This partial eclipse will be visible in New Zealand, Antarctica and the southern Pacific Ocean. It will be best seen from New Zealand with 76% coverage.
September 21: Saturn at Opposition
Saturn will be at its closest approach to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long.
September 22: September Equinox
The September equinox is the first day of fall in the Norther Hemisphere. The Sun shines directly on the equator and there will be nearly equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.
September 23: Neptune at Opposition
Neptune will be at its closest to Earth and its face will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. Due to its extreme distance from Earth, it will not be visible without the help of the most powerful telescopes.
October 7: Full Moon, Supermoon
This full moon is known by early Native American tribes as the Hunters Moon because at this time of year the leaves are falling and it’s time to hunt. This moon has also been known as the Travel Moon and the Blood Moon. This is also the first of three supermoons for 2025.
October 7: Draconids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by dust grains left behind by comet 21P Giacobini-Zinner, which was first discovered in 1900. is unusual because the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning like most other showers. it is a minor meteor shower producing only about 10 meteors per hour. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Draco but can appear anywhere in the sky.
October 21: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
October 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Hailey which has been known and observed since ancient times. The Orionids is an average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. This is, however, an excellent year for the Orionids. The moon will be absent all night long, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Orion but can appear anywhere in the sky.
October 29: Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
The planet Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. The best time to view Mercury is in the evening sky.
November 4-5: Taurids Meteor Shower
This shower, which consists of two separate streams (one left behind by dust grains from Asteroid 2004 TG10 and the other left behind by dust grains from Comet 2P Encke). It is a long running minor meteor shower producing only about 5-10 meteors per hour. Unfortunately, the glare from the full moon will hide most of the meteors this year. Taurids will radiate from the constellation Taurus but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 5: Full Moon, Supermoon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Beaver Moon because this was the time of year to set the beaver traps before the swamps and rivers froze. It has also been knowns as the Frosty Moon and the Dark Moon. This is also the second of three supermoons for 2025.
November 17-18: Leonids Meteor Shower
The Leonids is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Temple-Tuttle which was discovered in 1865. This shower is unique in that it has a cyclonic peak about every 33 years where hundreds of meteors per hour can be seen. This should be an excellent year for the Leonids due to the crescent moon appearing that night. Meteors will radiate from the constellation74 Leo but can appear anywhere in the sky.
November 20: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
November 21: Uranus at Opposition
Uranus will be at its closest to Earth and will be fully illuminated by the Sun. Due to its distance, only with the help of the most powerful telescopes can it be viewed.
December 4: Full Moon, Supermoon
This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because this is the time of year when the old winter air settles in and the nights become long and dark. This moon has also been known as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule. This is also the last of the three supermoons of 2025.
December 7: Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation
Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation from the Sun. The best time to view Mercury is in the morning sky.
December 13-14: Germinids Meteor Shower
This shower is produced by debris left behind by an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon which was discovered in 1982. The Geminids, considered to be the best shower in the heavens produces up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Gemini but can appear anywhere in the sky.
December 20: New Moon
The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will be not visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.
December 21: December Solstice
The December solstice is the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. The South Pole will be tilted toward the Sun and will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn.
December 21-22: Ursids Meteor Shower
The Ursids shower is produced by dust grains left behind by comet Tuttle which was first discovered in 1790. The shower runs annually from December 17-25 however the peak is the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd. The crescent moon will set early leaving dark skies for what should be a good show. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Ursa Minor but can appear anywhere in the sky.