10 Best Upcoming Stargazing Events You Can’t Afford to Miss
Get ready for a year of spectacular astronomy events! From Mars at opposition to planetary parades, solar and lunar eclipses, and meteor showers, here are the top celestial events to watch in 2025.
MARS AT OPPOSITION: Reddish Mars will shine particularly brightly around this time. On January 16, 2025, it will reach opposition, positioning itself directly opposite the Sun, making it visible throughout the night.
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PLANETARY PARADE: A six-planet alignment or parade will form an arc in the early night sky, peaking in visibility on January 17–18. Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars will align in a spectacular display. Venus and Saturn will appear low in the southwest shortly after sunset, with Jupiter shining brightly above them. Meanwhile, Mars will glow prominently in the eastern sky.
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PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE: The solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, known as the Great North American Eclipse, was a total solar eclipse visible along a path spanning parts of North America, including Mexico, the contiguous United States, and Canada.
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LYRID METEOR SHOWER: The Lyrid meteor shower peaks on April 22, 2025, offering up to 18 meteors per hour. Visible near the bright star Vega, it originates from Comet Thatcher and has been observed for 2,700 years.
TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: On the night of 13-14 March 2025, a total lunar eclipse will grace Earth’s skies. North America will have the best view of this rare phenomenon, featuring a striking "Blood Moon." The eclipse occurs when Earth aligns between the sun and a full moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface.
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ETA AQUARID METEORS: The Eta Aquariid meteor shower peaks on May 4-5, 2025, originating from Halley's Comet. Best viewed before dawn, it’s strongest in the Southern Hemisphere and near the equator.
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PERSIED METEOR SHOWER: The Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 12-13, 2025, with up to 100 meteors per hour. It originates from Comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle and radiates from the Perseus constellation.
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DRACONID METEOR SHOWER: The Draconid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 8, 2025, with minimal activity. It occurs as Earth passes debris from Comet 21P/Giacobini-Zinner, which orbits Earth every 6.6 years.
ORIONID METEOR SHOWER: The Orionid meteor shower peaks on Oct. 20-21, 2025, with 20 meteors per hour. Best viewing is around 2 a.m. with dark skies from the new moon.
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URSID METEOR SHOWER: The Ursid meteor shower peaks on Dec. 22-23, 2025, with about five meteors per hour. It’s linked to Comet 8P/Tuttle, which orbits the sun every 13.5 years.
![TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: On the night of 13-14 March 2025, a total lunar eclipse will grace Earth’s skies. North America will have the best view of this rare phenomenon, featuring a striking "Blood Moon." The eclipse occurs when Earth aligns between the sun and a full moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface.](https://images.moneycontrol.com/static-mcnews/2025/01/20250115125304_8.jpg "TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE: On the night of 13-14 March 2025, a total lunar eclipse will grace Earth’s skies. North America will have the best view of this rare phenomenon, featuring a striking "Blood Moon." The eclipse occurs when Earth aligns between the sun and a full moon, casting its shadow on the lunar surface.")
