Mars occultation, total lunar eclipse and more celestial events to watch in 2025 | Global News Avenue

The coming year will bring an array of celestial shows, from lunar phenomena to planetary wonders involving Earth’s neighbor in the solar system. For skywatchers looking to mark their calendars, here are the top celestial events to watch in 2025.

January 3: Quadrantid meteor shower

Next year’s first astral spectacle will arrive early, on January 3, when Quadrantid meteor shower peak. The event is considered one of the most impressive annual meteor showers, producing between 60 and 200 visible meteors under perfect weather conditions. NASA.

January 13: Occultation of Mars

The first full moon of 2025 is known as the Wolf Moon. This is also a supermoon that will appear in the night sky on January 13 and will pass in front of Mars in a phenomenon called occultation. People across the United States should be able to see the moon covering Mars before the Red Planet eventually reappears.

March 14: Total lunar eclipse and blood moon

A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 14, the first of two total lunar eclipses in 2025, but the only one visible in North America. period total lunar eclipsethe earth passed between the moon and the sun, and the three were once perfectly aligned. The planet casts a shadow on the moon, preventing most sunlight from reaching the moon.

This lunar eclipse coincides with a blood moon, which takes on a reddish hue. This happens because during a total lunar eclipse, some sunlight does reach the moon through the Earth’s atmosphere, but in the case of a blood moon, only colors with longer wavelengths, like reds and oranges, actually reach the moon.

March 29: Partial solar eclipse

In a few weeks, on March 29, a partial solar eclipse will occur. Like previous lunar eclipses, this is the first of two partial solar eclipses expected to occur in 2025 and the only one visible from North America next year.

In contrast to a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow over the planet as if it were covering the star. period total solar eclipseAs seen in the United States and Mexico last April, the moon completely blocks the sun’s light. A partial solar eclipse won’t have the same effect, but people in some areas will be able to see the moon partially in front of the sun.

April 21: Lyrid meteor shower

this Lyrid meteor shower According to statistics, the active period of this activity is from April 15 to April 30 next year. American Meteorological Society. It is expected to peak between April 21 and 22, with people in the northern hemisphere most likely to see the sparkling sights.

August 12-13: Perseid meteor shower

this Perseid meteor shower It is expected to peak between August 12 and August 13. Dubbed “the best meteor shower of the year” by NASA, the shower typically produces 50 to 100 visible meteors per hour when the sky is clear enough to see them. Don’t be overwhelmed by the moonlight.

Unfortunately, the American Meteorological Society notes that the 2025 Perseid meteor shower may not be as noticeable because the shower will coincide with the waning gibbous moon, and the intense moonlight may hide up to 75% of the meteors.

August 12: Venus conjunct Jupiter

The conjunction of Venus and Jupiter will occur around the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, Space Network Report. The alignment of the two brightest planets in the solar system will cause Venus and Jupiter to appear closer together in the sky than they normally appear.

September 7: Total lunar eclipse

According to NASA, the second total lunar eclipse of 2025 will occur on September 7. People will be able to see it in parts of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

September 21: Partial solar eclipse

Another partial solar eclipse is scheduled to occur on September 21st. In addition to Antarctica, the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, the partial solar eclipse will also be visible in parts of Australia.

October 7, November 5, and December 4: Supermoon

There will be three supermoons next fall, on October 8, November 5 and December 4. supermoon This occurs when the full moon of the lunar cycle occurs when the moon is at one of its closest points to the Earth in its orbit. Because the full moon is so close to Earth, skywatchers tend to see a brighter and larger moon than usual. In 2025, the November 5 supermoon will appear particularly bright because the moon will be closest to Earth then.

December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower

this Geminid meteor showerKnown for its particularly bright and colorful displays, it peaks between December 13 and 14 each year.