In 2025, skywatchers can anticipate a series of incredible celestial events, such as a bright Mars occulted by the Wolf Moon, Venus at its brightest, a stunning “devil’s horns” solar eclipse, and numerous meteor showers reaching their peak under moonless night skies.
While many of these events are visible to the naked eye, using a good pair of binoculars and a beginner telescope can greatly enhance your viewing experience.
Here are 15 must-see skywatching events to mark on your calendar.
1. Quadrantid meteor shower: Jan. 3, 2025 (around midnight)
Despite occurring during winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Quadrantid meteor shower is more prolific than most. It can bring up to 120 “shooting stars” per hour at its peak, along with some superbright “fireballs.” This year, with the moon below the horizon, a clear sky promises a good show.
2. Mars gobbled up by the Wolf Moon: Jan. 13-14, 2025 (before midnight)
Mars will be exceptionally bright in January 2025, with the best night to observe it being when it disappears behind the almost full Wolf Moon. This unique event will be visible from North America, offering a spectacular sight as Mars vanishes behind the moon. The exact timing depends on your location, with Washington, D.C. experiencing the occultation at 9:16 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, according to In-The-Sky.org.
3. Mars at opposition: Jan. 15, 2025 (all night)
A few nights after its occultation by the full moon, Mars will reach opposition, a phase that occurs once every 26 months. This will make Mars prominent in the night sky for a few weeks on each side of its opposition. Additionally, Mars will reach perigee, its closest point to Earth, a few days earlier on Jan. 12.
4. A crescent Venus at its brightest: Feb. 19, 2025 (after sunset)
Venus will be at its closest point to Earth on Feb. 19, offering a spectacular view of the “evening star” in its slimmest crescent phase. This unique transformation of Venus, from half-lit to 13% lit, can only be observed with a telescope between Jan. 11 and Feb. 19.
5. “Devil’s horns” at sunrise: March 29, 2025 (sunrise)
