2025 Astronomy Calendar | Astronomical & Celestial Events

JANUARY

January 2-4: The waxing crescent Moon is close to Venus and Saturn (PM)

The new year starts with a good opportunity to see the crescent Moon passing by two planets in the evening sky. First, we have Venus on the 2^nd, shortly after sunset. Venus will be high in the southwest, with the crescent Moon about ten degrees to the lower right.

The following night provides a better view, with the Moon appearing just three degrees to the planet’s left, placing both worlds within the same field of view of most 10x50 binoculars.

It’s Saturn’s turn on the 4^th when the Moon appears a little under three degrees to its upper left. Both are higher than Venus in the sky, so you can step outside about an hour after sunset and see them together in darker skies. This is your only chance to see a crescent Moon close to the ringed planet in the evening sky this year, so don’t miss out!

January 11-25: Venus and Saturn (PM)

As Venus moves away from the Sun in the sky, Saturn is moving towards it, and the gap between the two planets is closing. They’ll be within the same 10x50 binocular field of view from the 11^th to the 25^th, with the two being at the same altitude on the 17^th, when two and a quarter degrees separate them.

They’ll be closest the following night, with 2.2 degrees between the pair. By this time, Venus will have overtaken Saturn and will now appear to its upper right. Regardless of when you choose to observe them, you should be able to easily see them in the evening sky for at least a few hours after sunset.

January 13: Occultation of Mars by the Moon (PM)

If you live in North America, you won’t want to miss this celestial event. An occultation happens when one celestial body passes in front of another, thereby hiding (or occulting) it from view. In this case, the full Moon is passing in front of Mars.

The timing of the event will vary by location, but generally speaking, those on the East Coast will see the red planet disappear between 9 PM and 9:30 PM ET. If you live on the West Coast, the occultation will begin between 5:45 PM and 6:30 PM, just as the pair are rising in the evening twilight.

In terms of the length of the occultation, observers along a line starting in the northeast (eg, Maine) through to the southwest (eg, southern California) will see an occultation lasting an hour or more as Mars passes behind the widest portion of the Moon’s disc.

The further north or south you are, the shorter the occultation. For example, observers in Miami will see an occultation lasting 37 minutes as the planet skims behind the Moon’s southern hemisphere.

January 15: Mars at opposition (AN)

Mars reaches opposition just a few days after its occultation by the Moon. It’s good news and bad news this year: the good news is that the red planet is in Gemini, close to the bright stars Castor and Pollux, so the planet will appear high in the sky for observers in the northern hemisphere.

The bad news is that, at a distance of 0.64 AUs, Mars is further away than usual, and the planet will consequently appear smaller and a little dimmer. This time around, the planet will have an apparent diameter of 14.6 arcseconds and shine at magnitude -1.4. Compare that to the opposition of 2003 - its closest approach in 60,000 years - when Mars appeared 25.1 arcseconds in diameter and shone brilliantly at magnitude -2.9.

FEBRUARY

February 1: The waxing crescent Moon close to Venus (PM)

Last month, when the Moon passed Venus, Saturn was also close by, while one month from now, the Moon and Venus will be joined by Mercury. But this February, with no other planets or bright stars nearby, Venus is a solitary beacon of brilliant white light in the early evening sky.

However, on the first day of the month, you’ll find the nearly four-day-old Moon about 2.3 degrees to its left, providing binocular observers and astrophotographers alike an opportunity to savor the aesthetic beauty of the pair together.

February 5-6: An occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon (AM)

January saw an occultation of Mars by the Moon, but this month brings a second occultation of a slightly different kind: an occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon. However, this event won’t be visible everywhere, and the Moon’s phase could make spotting the Pleiades tricky.

If you live in either the Eastern or Central time zones, you’ll find the occultation takes place in the early hours of the 6^th. This is a little problematic, as the pair will be below the horizon for those in the Eastern time zone, while those in Central time will find them very low in the north-northwest.

Observers in the Mountain and Pacific time zones will fare somewhat better, with both the Moon and star cluster appearing at a higher altitude in the sky. Under normal circumstances, this would make it a little easier to see the Pleiades, but it will also make the Moon’s light brighter.

The Moon begins to blot out the stars of the Pleiades at around 11:15 PM on the 5^th for those in the Pacific time zone, or 12:15 AM on the 6^th for those in Mountain time, and 1:15 AM on the 6^th for those in Central time. The entire event lasts for several hours, so the vast majority of observers may only see the beginning and middle of the occultation before the pair sink below the horizon.

With the Moon 60% illuminated, the chances are it will be too bright to allow observers to see the Pleiades with the naked eye. However, if you’re using binoculars, you can try moving the illuminated portion of the Moon out of the field of view for a better chance of seeing the cluster’s individual stars.

February 24-25: Mercury And Saturn (PM)

Having passed the Sun earlier in the month, Mercury is now quickly climbing into the evening sky. Meanwhile, Saturn has been losing ground to the Sun, which means you’ll have an opportunity to see them pass one another in the twilight after sunset.

Your best opportunity comes on the 24^th and 25^th. Step outside at about 15 minutes after the sun goes down, and you’ll see Venus shining brightly towards the west. Look directly below it and much closer to the horizon, and you may see a fainter “star” - it may even glint with a pinkish-white light. This is Mercury.

Now look just a little to its left, and if you’re in luck, you might see another “star” that’s even fainter still. This is Saturn. On the 24^th, Saturn appears just to the upper left of Mercury, while the following night, it will appear to the lower left. You’ll need a clear view of the western horizon, and binoculars will certainly help.

February 28: The waxing crescent Moon close to Mercury and Venus (PM)

If you had difficulty locating Mercury on the 24^th and 25^th, the Moon will act as a convenient marker at the very end of the month; but again, you’ll need a clear view of the western horizon, and binoculars will help. Venus should still be obvious, while the Moon - like Mercury - will appear directly below it.

Once you’ve found the Moon, look just a little above it for Mercury. Below it is Saturn, but depending on your local conditions, it may be too faint and low to spot against the twilight. However, all three are close enough to fit within the same binocular field of view.

Come back the following night - March 1^st - and you’ll see the crescent Moon to the lower left of Venus. They may only fit within a low-powered binocular field of view, but they should still make for a lovely sight. Incidentally, this is your last chance to see the Moon and Venus together in the evening sky this year. Venus is at inferior conjunction with the Sun on March 22^nd, and then it will emerge into the morning sky.

MARCH

March 7: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation from the Sun (PM)

March is often a good time to spot Mercury in the evening sky from the northern hemisphere - assuming it’s visible, of course! This year we’re in luck, as the planet reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun on March 7^th.

At that time, it’ll be 18 degrees away from the Sun, and while it can't compare to the maximum elongation of 28 degrees, it’s still enough to put Mercury at a decent altitude. Start looking about 15 minutes after sunset; as before, our solar system’s innermost planet will appear as a pinkish-white “star” to the lower left of Venus, and using binoculars can help.

March 9-18: Mercury and Venus (PM)

Although Mercury and Venus were too far apart to fit within the same 10x50 binocular field of view on the 7^th, that won’t be the case between the 9^th and 18^th, when the pair will be drawing closer together in the evening twilight. Having said that, if you find yourself without binoculars, both planets should be easily visible to the naked eye.

Again, start looking about 15 minutes after sunset. Venus will be fairly obvious, with Mercury appearing to the lower left on the 9^th and 10^th. By the 11^th, Mercury will be almost level with Venus, and both will appear at the same altitude over the following two nights. The pair are at their closest on the 12^th, with 5.6 degrees separating them.

After that, they drift apart, with Mercury appearing to the upper left of Venus until the 18^th when 6.1 degrees will separate them. By this time, the pair will be lower and harder to spot. This also will be your last chance to see the two together in 10x50 binoculars, as the gap will be too wide from the 19^th onwards.

March 13-14: Total Lunar Eclipse (AN)

With the exception of eastern Newfoundland and western Alaska, there isn’t anywhere within North America that won’t see this eclipse from start to finish. The only downside is the timing, those on the East Coast will need to be outside during the early morning hours on the 14^th.

That being the case, the penumbral phase begins at 11:57 PM ET (8:57 PM PT) on the 13^th. The Moon then moves into the umbra, with the partial phase beginning at 1:09 AM ET on the 14^th for observers in the east or 10:09 PM PT on the 13^th for observers in the west.

Totality begins at 2:26 AM ET (11:26 PM PT), with mid-eclipse occurring at 2:58 AM ET (11:58 PM PT) and totality ending at 3:31 AM ET (12:31 AM PT). The Moon will be in Virgo at this time, roughly midway between Spica and Regulus in Leo, and while Mars will be towards the west, there are no other bright planets nearby.

The partial phase ends at 4:47 AM ET (1:47 AM PT), with the Moon exiting the penumbra at 6:00 AM ET (3:00 AM PT).

March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse

Last year was dominated by the total solar eclipse on April 8^th. While it will be many years before we see another like it from North America, there are always partial eclipses to look forward to.

Unfortunately, visibility is somewhat limited, as you’ll need to be in the northeastern United States or Canada to see any of it, and with the eclipse taking place at dawn, many will see the Sun partially obscured as it rises above the horizon. For example, the sun rises at 6:44 AM ET for observers in New York City, with mid-eclipse (33% obscured) occurring just a few minutes later.

The further north you are, the greater the obscuration, but you’ll obviously need a very clear view of the eastern horizon to get the most out of it. As always, it’s a good idea to check online (for example, timeanddate.com) for specific details relating to your location.

APRIL

April 6-14: Mercury, Venus and Saturn (AM)

This one’s a little challenging, but it’s worth rising early to see these three worlds close to one another in the predawn twilight. Step outside at about 20 minutes before sunrise and you’ll see Venus shining brightly towards the east.

Look below the planet and just a little to the right, and you may also see two fainter “stars” of equal brightness closer to the horizon. Of the two, Mercury appears to the left, while Saturn is to the right.

These three worlds remain relatively close together for about a week, but the best view will be on the 10^th, when Mercury and Saturn are at their closest to one another, with exactly two degrees between them.

April 21: Mercury at greatest western elongation from the Sun (AM)

Having made an appearance in the evening sky last month, Mercury is now best seen in the predawn twilight and is furthest from the Sun on the 21^st. With a separation of 23 degrees from the Sun, this is the best opportunity you’ll have this year to see the planet in the morning sky.

On this date, you’ll find Venus and Saturn to the upper left of the planet, with the last quarter Moon hanging over the southeastern horizon.

April 21-22: Lyrid Meteor Shower (AN)

Realistically (and historically), the Lyrid meteor shower can be thought of as the first major shower of the year, as the Quadrantids are only at their best for a few hours. You, therefore, really need to be in the right place at the right time to see them at their best.

The Lyrids, however, can be enjoyed by anyone from any location, and while they’re best seen during the early hours of the 22^nd when Lyra is rising in the northeast, you should still be able to see shooting stars after sunset on the 21^st.

This year, the Moon is a waning crescent and won’t rise until a few hours before dawn (about an hour before twilight begins), giving you roughly six hours after 11 PM on the 21^st (when Lyra is rising) to enjoy the show. Under ideal conditions, you can expect to see up to 18 meteors an hour.

April 24-25: The waning crescent Moon close to Mercury, Venus, And Saturn (AM)

If you’re an early riser, this is definitely one sight you won’t want to miss. It’s unusual for the Moon to appear close to two planets, but for there to be three nearby is a rare sight indeed.

Step outside at about 20 minutes before dawn on the 24^th and you’ll find a crescent Moon in the east-southeast, with brilliant Venus directly to its left. To the lower right of Venus is Saturn, while a little way to the lower left is Mercury.

However, the best view comes the following morning when the Moon appears in the midst of the planetary trio. At that time, you’ll find Venus to the upper right of the Moon, Saturn to its right, and Mercury to its lower left. With Earthshine also making an appearance, this is one photographic opportunity you won’t want to miss!

MAY

April 21-May 17: Mars and the Beehive Cluster (PM)

Every few years or so, Mars passes Messier 44, the Beehive Cluster, in the night sky. The last time this happened was on June 2^nd, 2023, when the planet appeared to pass through the cluster and was a mere 11 arcseconds from its center.

This year, Mars and the Beehive will appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view from April 21^st to May 17^th, and it’s best to wait until the sky is truly dark - about 90 minutes after sunset - in order to clearly see the star cluster.

The pair are closest on May 4^th and 5^th, with 40 arcseconds between them. This places Mars just outside the cluster, but binoculars should still provide a fine view. However, beware of the Moon - it will appear within the same field of view on the 3^rd, brightening the sky and making it all but impossible to see the cluster’s comparatively faint stars.

May 22-24: The waning crescent Moon close to Saturn And Venus (AM)

After appearing close to Mercury, Venus, and Saturn last month, the Moon has come around again to the predawn twilight sky - but this time Mercury is missing from the scene. Venus and Saturn remain, but with the gap between them widening, this is your last chance to see the pair and the Moon together.

The waning crescent Moon first appears close to Saturn on the 22^nd, when it can be found to the upper right of the planet. The best view comes the following day when it appears between the two worlds. Lastly, come back on the 24^th to see the Moon to the left of Venus.

May 28: The waxing crescent Moon close to Jupiter (PM)

Jupiter has been a prominent sight in the evening sky since the beginning of the year, and the Moon has appeared close to the planet each month. However, the planet is losing ground against the Sun and will soon disappear from view completely.

Fortunately, it’s still visible as a bright star toward the west-northwest from about 20 minutes after sunset. On this particular night, you’ll find the crescent Moon hanging about 8 degrees directly above it, with Earthshine illuminating the darkened portion of its surface.

May 31: Venus at greatest western elongation from the Sun (AM).

Our nearest planetary neighbor is furthest from the Sun in the sky on the 31^st, with an impressive 45-degree gap between them. As a result, Venus rises about two hours before the Sun, giving you plenty of time to see it shining brilliantly in the predawn twilight.

It’s currently moving through the faint constellation of Pisces, so there are no other bright stars nearby, but look out for Saturn, which can be seen someway to the upper right.

JUNE

June 5-June 17: Mars and Regulus (PM)

While losing ground to the Sun, Mars still continues to be visible in the evening sky for several hours after sunset. It’s moved on from Cancer and has moved into neighboring Leo, where it can now be found close to Regulus, that constellation’s brightest star.

The two will first appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view on the 5^th, with the gap closing until the 16^th and 17^th, when a little less than a degree will separate them.

You’ll find them over the western horizon after sunset, but it’s best to wait a little while for the sky to grow dark. This allows you to compare the colors; Mars will appear coppery, while Regulus will glow with a white light.

June 22: The waning crescent Moon close to Venus (AM)

The Moon and Venus together - whether it’s in the morning or evening sky - is always a sight worth seeing, especially when Venus is at its furthest from the Sun. That’s because they will both be easily seen during the twilight when the sky is a rich dark blue, rather than the pale blue and gold that comes just before sunrise or shortly after sunset. This, in turn, makes for a much more aesthetically pleasing sight.

That’s the situation this month, and with Venus 45 degrees from the Sun, it’ll be clearly visible over the eastern horizon at around 90 minutes before sunrise. Look for the waning crescent Moon (3 days from turning new) to its left, with Earthshine illuminating the darkened portion of its surface.

June 26: The waxing crescent Moon is close to Mercury (PM)

Mercury has returned to the evening sky, and once again, the Moon is on hand to help you locate it. The smallest planet will be a decent 15 degrees above the horizon at around 15 minutes after sunset, giving you the best opportunity to see the planet and the Moon together in the evening sky this year.

The Moon, a little more than a day and a half old and only 4% illuminated, can be seen hovering over the west-northwestern horizon, with Mercury four and a half degrees to its upper left. This allows them both to fit within the same 10x50 binocular field of view. Far more challenging are the stars Castor and Pollux, which appear to the right of the pair and will require darker skies to be seen.

June 29: The waxing crescent Moon close to Mars (PM)

Three days after its encounter with Mercury, the Moon catches up to Mars. Step outside about 45 minutes after sunset, and you’ll find them over the western horizon, with Mars appearing directly above the crescent Moon.

This is a close conjunction, with only half a degree separating Mars from the center of the Moon. In other words, about half a moon’s width will separate the planet from the lunar limb, which should look great through binoculars and in photographs.

JULY

July 3: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation from the Sun (PM)

With 25 degrees separating the Sun and Mercury, this is probably your best opportunity to see the planet in the evening sky this year. By this date, it will have been visible for some time and should be easily seen, roughly 14 degrees over the western horizon 15 minutes after sunset.

This puts it in almost the same position as it was when the Moon appeared close by on June 26^th, but unfortunately, there will be no Moon, bright stars, or planets to help you locate it tonight. If the planet isn’t readily apparent, try scanning the horizon with binoculars to help you locate it. (Incidentally, Mercury is just one degree from the Beehive star cluster in Cancer on this date, but the sky will be too bright and the pair too low for you to spot it.)

July 5: Venus And The Pleiades (AM)

Just as Mars passed the Beehive cluster back in April, so Venus is now passing the Pleiades in the morning sky. Unfortunately, with a gap of just slightly more than six and a half degrees between them, the pair won’t fit within the same 10x50 binocular field of view, and you’ll need to use lower powered binoculars if you’d like a close view of them together.

You’ll also want to rise a little early - probably around 90 minutes before dawn - as the sky will need to be dark enough for the cluster to be easily visible. And like many of the other sights described here, this is a good opportunity to capture an image of the two together.

July 6: Saturn and Neptune (AM)

Saturn and Neptune have been drawing closer for months now and have been within the same 10x50 binocular field of view since March 21^st. While the planets may have been too close to the Sun for much of that time, the pair are now visible in the predawn sky.

Less than a degree will separate them from June 27^th to July 17^th, with the gap being narrowest on July 6^th, with 58.4 arcseconds between them. If you want to try your luck, you’ll need to step outside sometime between 3 AM and 90 minutes before sunrise, when the planets are sufficiently high and the skies sufficiently dark to make spotting Neptune possible.

July 13: Venus The Aldebaran (AM)

From July 9^th to July 18^th, Venus will pass Aldebaran, with the pair appearing within the same 10x50 binocular field of view. This comes just a little more than a week after the planet passed the Pleiades, but with Aldebaran being the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, this particular event will be easier to see.

The pair will be closest on the 13^th, with a little more than three degrees between them. Step outside about an hour or 45 minutes before sunrise, and you’ll see them low over the eastern horizon, with Venus shining with a brilliant white light, and Aldebaran appearing coppery to its lower right.

July 21-23: The waning crescent Moon close to Venus And Jupiter (AM)

With the Moon turning new on the 24^th, there’s an opportunity to see it pass both Venus and Jupiter in the predawn twilight from the 21^st to the 23^rd. Step outside about 30 minutes before sunrise on the 21^st, and you’ll find the crescent Moon to the upper left of Venus, with the star Aldebaran a little way to the right.

The following morning finds the Moon above Jupiter, which hangs low over the east-northeastern horizon, while the 23^rd sees the very slender crescent Moon just to the left of the giant planet. If you’re looking for an additional challenge, try spotting the stars of Orion rising in the east to the lower right of Venus.

AUGUST

August 6-18: Venus And Jupiter (AM)

There’s a great opportunity to see the two brightest planets close to one another in the predawn twilight this month. From the 6^th to the 18^th, Venus and Jupiter will appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view, with the pair being closest on the morning of the 12^th.

In the days before the 12^th, you’ll find Venus to the upper right of Jupiter. Of the two, Venus will be brighter and will shine with a brilliant white light. In comparison, Jupiter has a dimmer, golden glow.

The pair will be 1.2 degrees apart on the 11^th, but that gap narrows to 0.9 degrees the following morning before widening to 1.4 degrees on the 14^th. At that time, Venus will appear below Jupiter; keep your eyes on the pair, as the Moon will stop by in the days following their close encounter.

August 11-12: Perseid meteor shower (AN)

If there’s one celestial event that amateur astronomers look for every year, it’s the Perseid meteor shower. This perennial favorite is known to produce bright meteors at a rate of roughly 100 an hour - under ideal conditions. Besides the conditions at your location, the biggest factor that determines how many shooting stars you’ll see is the Moon.

Put simply, when the Moon is close to full, it brightens the sky, which, in turn, makes it difficult to see the fainter shooting stars. This year, unfortunately, it’s a waning gibbous, which means it’ll be high in the sky during the early hours of the morning when the shower is best seen.

Your best bet is to start observing once the sky becomes truly dark on the 11^th (roughly 90 minutes after sunset). The constellation Perseus, from where the meteors appear to originate, will still be below the horizon, but you should still see some shooting stars here and there. You’ll then have until around midnight, at which time the Moon will be high enough to brighten the sky and cause some interference. (Incidentally, that bright yellow-ish star close to the Moon? That’s Saturn!)

August 19-21: The waning crescent Moon is close to Jupiter, Venus And Mercury (AM)

If you’ve been following Jupiter and Venus in the morning, you’ll see them joined by two other worlds from the 19^th to the 21^st. Step outside about 30 minutes before sunrise on the 19^th, and you’ll see the Moon hanging above the pair, while below the two planets (and just a little to the left) is a third - Mercury.

If you’re having difficulty locating Mercury, you can draw a line through Jupiter and Venus to reach it, with Mercury appearing roughly a third of Venus’s altitude above the eastern horizon. The 20^th sees the crescent Moon just to the left of Venus, while the 21^st places it to the upper left of Mercury.

August 19: Mercury at greatest western elongation from the Sun (AM)

Besides the crescent Moon being close by on the 19^th, this is also when Mercury is furthest from the Sun in the sky. You could potentially see it from around the 10^th onwards, but it won’t be particularly bright and you’ll only have a few minutes to spot it at around 15 to 20 minutes before sunrise.

If you have no luck, try using binoculars or use the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter to help you locate it (see above). Once you’ve spotted it, keep track of it to see how many days you can see it before it disappears. In theory, if you have a clear unobstructed view of the eastern horizon, it should remain visible until the first few days of September.

SEPTEMBER

August 27-September 6: Venus And Messier 44 (AM)

After passing Jupiter last month, Venus slips into Cancer on the 23^rd and then edges toward Messier 44, the Beehive Cluster. They’ll appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view from the 27^th onwards, but spotting the cluster might be tricky for several reasons.

This is primarily because the cluster will be relatively low over the horizon. Given Venus’s proximity to the Sun, both the planet and the cluster aren’t high enough for the cluster to be easily seen when the skies are truly dark.

As a result, you’ll need to use binoculars. Try your luck at around an hour before sunrise; Venus, as always, is unmissable, with the cluster appearing to its lower left from the 27^th to the 30^th. On the 31^st and 1^st, the cluster appears to the left of Venus, with a little more than a degree between the planet and the center of the cluster.

Venus then passes the Beehive and moves into a position below the cluster until the 6^th, which will be your last chance to see the two together within the same 10x50 field of view.

September 4-21: Mars And Spica (PM). Moon close by on the 24^th.

Mars passes by several bright stars this year and ends its run close to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Neither are particularly bright, but both should become visible in the twilight towards the west-southwest, from about 20 minutes after sunset.

Of the two, Spica will be a little brighter and shine with a white light. Compare that to fainter Mars, which will appear coppery. Mars will be within the same 10x50 binocular field of view from the 4^th onwards, when the planet will appear to the right of the star. The pair are closest on the 12^th and 13^th, when 2.2 degrees will separate them, and Mars will appear to the upper right of Spica.

Keep your eyes on Mars, as the crescent Moon will be seven degrees to its left on the 24^th. This will be your last chance to see the Moon and Mars together in the evening this year.

September 19: The waning crescent Moon is close to Venus And Regulus (AM).

This is a very neat conjunction of the Moon, Venus, and Regulus, with all three easily fitting within the same 10x50 binocular field of view. Venus and Regulus will appear together through binoculars from the 14^th, but are closest on this date, when half a degree separates them.

Half a degree is also the diameter of the Moon’s disc, and you’ll get the opportunity to make a comparison this morning as the waning crescent Moon joins the pair. If you live on the East Coast, you’ll see that all three are aligned, while those in time zones further west will see it to the left or lower left of Venus.

Either way, this should make for a lovely sight in binoculars and one that astrophotographers will want to capture for posterity—especially with Earthlight visible on the darkened portion of the Moon’s surface. The best view will probably come about an hour before sunrise.

After the 19^th, Venus and Regulus will go their separate ways and will last appear in 10x50 binoculars together on the 24^th. Meanwhile, the Moon will turn new on the 21^st before returning to the evening sky the following evening.

September 20-23: Saturn and Neptune at opposition (AN).

Both Saturn and Neptune reach opposition this month, and just days apart, which can only mean one thing: the two planets are extremely close to one another in the sky. This happens once every 35 years or so and won’t happen again until June 2061.

Technically, this year, Saturn and Neptune were closest in July, when just under a degree separated them. Now, with both planets at opposition and perfectly positioned for observation, the gap has widened to two and a half degrees, but that’s still close enough to place them within the same field of view of many binoculars (although you may need dark skies to spot Neptune).

The two will draw closer again, and on February 20^th, 2026, a little under a degree will separate them again. Unfortunately, they’ll be setting shortly after the Sun, and while Saturn should be visible, Neptune will not.

So take a moment to enjoy the two planets together, and at their best, while you can. Opposition means that the planet is opposite the Sun in the sky, so both Saturn and Neptune will be visible throughout the night, rising at sunset and then setting at sunrise.

Saturn is at opposition first, on the 20^th, with Neptune following on the 23^rd. Saturn will be easily visible to the naked eye as a bright, pale yellow “star” rising in the east-southeast in the evening, but you’ll need binoculars or a telescope to spot faint Neptune.

OCTOBER

October 12-14: The last quarter Moon close to Jupiter, Castor, and Pollux (AM).

Jupiter crossed over from Taurus (the Bull) to Gemini (the Twins) in June, shortly before it reached superior conjunction with the Sun. Since then, it’s been moving closer to Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars that represent the heads of the twins themselves.

It’s closest to Pollux on the 12^th when 6.6 degrees will separate them. That’s a little too wide for most 10x50 binoculars, but lower powered equipment with a wider field of view should show them both together. The last quarter Moon is some way to the upper right on the 12^th but appears very close to the group the following morning and just to the left on the 14^th.

October 19: The waning crescent Moon close to Venus (AM)

Step outside about an hour before sunrise on the 23^rd, and you’ll find the slender crescent Moon and Venus hanging over the eastern horizon. At first glance, the pair appear to be alone in the predawn twilight, but Jupiter is high in the sky towards the south, while the constellations of winter are sinking in the southwest.

October 19: Mercury And Mars (PM)

Mars is sinking towards the Sun in the evening sky, while Mercury is moving away from it, giving observers the opportunity to see the pair as they pass one another. However, this celestial sight could be a little tricky to spot, as the window of opportunity is relatively small, and you’ll need a clear view of the west-southwestern horizon.

To try your luck, step outside around 15 minutes after sunset; Mercury is the brighter of the two and appears just slightly less than two degrees to the lower left of Mars. You’ll most likely need binoculars to spot the pair, as they’ll only be about seven degrees above the horizon at that time.

If you don’t have any luck, try again on the 23^rd, when the two-day-old Moon will be to their left. If you can see the Moon and Mercury, draw a line through them to reach Mars.

October 29: Mercury at greatest eastern elongation from the Sun (PM)

This is your last chance to see Mercury in the evening sky this year, but despite the planet being 23 degrees from the Sun, it’s not at its best. If you weren’t able to spot it with the Moon and Mars nearby, the chances are you might be out of luck.

As before, on the 19^th and 23^rd, Mercury will be only seven degrees above the south-southwestern horizon, and while the planet remains bright, you may need binoculars to spot it.

NOVEMBER

November 16-17: Leonid meteor shower (AN)

While not as prolific as the Perseid meteor shower, this year the Leonids have one distinct advantage over their summertime cousins: the Moon won’t be causing any problems. That’s because the Moon will be a waning crescent on the morning of the 17^th and won’t rise until two and a half hours before dawn, giving you plenty of time to see some shooting stars.

You can start looking on the evening of the 16^th, but your best chances will be in the early hours of the morning of the 17^th. The meteors appear to radiate out from the sickle of Leo, which won’t rise until around 1 AM, with the best opportunity to see shooting stars coming between that time and around three hours before sunrise. Under ideal conditions, you could see up to around 15 meteors an hour.

November 21: Uranus is at opposition (AN)

The next 10-15 years are a particularly favorable time to observe Uranus from the northern hemisphere, as the planet will be moving through the constellations Taurus and Gemini, both of which appear high in the sky from locations north of the equator. As a bonus, the planet will also appear within the same 10x50 binocular field of view as the Pleiades until next August.

Being at opposition, Uranus rises at sunset and then sets at sunrise. Experienced astronomers under very dark skies may be able to spot the planet with the naked eye, but otherwise, you’ll need binoculars to spot it.

It’s distinguished by its aquamarine color and steady light, which helps to set it apart from the surrounding stars. A telescope at a magnification of around 100x will show a tiny disc, but only the largest amateur scopes will show any features or its moons.

November 23: Saturn’s rings appear to disappear (PM)

If you’ve been keeping your eye on Saturn over the past few years, you will have seen the planet’s rings gradually disappear from view. Our view of the planet and its rings changes as it moves through its orbit, and this year, on March 23^rd, they will seem to disappear completely as they appear edge-on to us.

Unfortunately, Saturn will be too close to the Sun at the time, but once the planet is sufficiently well-placed in the predawn sky (around mid-June), you’ll see the rings have opened a little again. They’ll start to narrow once more around early August before nearly disappearing again on November 23^rd.

By this time, the planet will be several months past opposition but still very well placed for observation in the evening sky. This will be the narrowest you’ll see the rings this year, and (depending on your equipment) the chances are they’ll be difficult to see at all.

November 25: Mercury And Venus (AM)

It’s not unusual for the two innermost planets to be seen together in either the morning or evening twilight, but with the pair being close to the Sun, this particular occurrence may be challenging for some. You’ll need to be outside at around 15-20 minutes before sunrise and have a clear, unobstructed view of the southeastern horizon.

Venus will be the most noticeable of the two, but its brightness will be a little diminished by its low altitude of only five degrees. Mercury appears just 1.4 degrees to the upper left but is a lot fainter and may require binoculars to spot it. If you see them both, return on the 26^th, and you’ll see the distance between them has doubled.

DECEMBER

December 7-8: Waning gibbous Moon close to Jupiter, Castor, and Pollux (AM)

Jupiter doesn’t reach opposition until January 10^th but is very well placed for northern hemisphere observers at the end of the year, rising in the east several hours after sunset.

The planet remains close to Castor and Pollux, the two brightest stars of Gemini, and the trio are joined by the waning gibbous Moon on the 7^th. You’ll be able to see them in both the predawn sky or a few hours after sunset on that date. Jupiter will be closest to Pollux between December 11^th and 15^th, when just slightly less than 6.5 degrees will separate them.

December 7: Mercury at greatest western elongation from the Sun (AM)

This is your last chance to see Mercury this year, and this is a particularly good opportunity for early risers as the planet will be relatively high in the sky shortly before dawn. This time around, Mercury is twenty degrees from the Sun in the sky, placing it at an altitude of around 15 degrees over the southeastern horizon at around 15 minutes before sunrise.

December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower (AN)

With the Moon washing out the Perseids, the Geminids will undoubtedly be the best meteor shower of 2025. The Moon is full on the 4^th, nearly ten days before the Geminids reach their maximum, and as a waning crescent, it won’t be bright enough to cause any interference with the shower.

Therefore, you can start watching for shooting stars around two hours after sunset on the 13^th and continue until the early hours of the 14^th. The shower is quite prolific and can potentially produce over 100 shooting stars an hour under ideal conditions.

December 17-18: Waning crescent Moon close to Mercury (AM)

Mercury was at its best ten days ago and is now sinking toward the Sun in the sky, but before it disappears completely, it’s joined by the waning crescent Moon in the predawn twilight.

Your best bet is to look towards the southeast at around 20 minutes before sunrise on the 17^th. The Moon will be about 15 degrees above the horizon, while Mercury glimmers eleven degrees towards the east. That gap will be half the following morning, but so will the Moon’s altitude. However, if you can see it, you should also be able to fit Mercury (which appears to its upper left) into the same low powered binocular field of view.

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