From an occultation of Mars to conjunctions with Venus and Jupiter, the moon will probably be concerned in a bevy of spectacular occasions in 2025, and it’ll seem at its largest and brightest since 2019.
Here are some dates for this 12 months’s moon-gazing diary.
If you are in search of some skywatching gear to profit from the lunar occasions in 2025, our finest telescopes and finest binoculars guides might assist. We even have a devoted moon-observing information that can assist you get extra conversant in our lunar companion.
The moon, Venus and Saturn: Jan. 3, 2025 (after sundown)
Look to the southwest anytime after darkish on Jan. 3, and you will see a 17%-lit waxing crescent moon very near Venus. The planet will probably be about half-lit as seen from Earth, and Saturn will probably be above the pair.
Saturn occulted by the moon: Jan. 4, 2025 (after sundown)
Saturn will probably be occulted by a 27%-lit waxing crescent moon for round an hour simply after sundown within the southwest, however just for these in Europe. From North America, the 2 will seem extremely shut.
A crescent moon near dazzling Venus: Feb. 1, 2025 (after sundown)
A 15%-lit waxing crescent moon will probably be near Venus within the western sky simply after sundown. Shining at magnitude -4.8, Venus will dazzle. If you’ll be able to put a small telescope on Venus, you may see it as a 37%-lit crescent.
Mars occulted by a full moon: Jan. 13-14, 2025 (after sundown)
Mars will probably be at opposition, which means it is going to be the most important and brightest it ever seems from Earth. In a celestial coincidence, it can even be blocked by the full moon for over an hour. The precise timing depends upon your location, however for Washington, D.C., Mars will disappear behind the moon at 9:16 p.m. EST and reappear at 10:31 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, in keeping with In-The-Sky.org, which supplies the occasions for all places.
A crescent moon and a crescent Venus: March 2, 2025 (after sundown)
In the third such occasion of 2025, a look to the southwest instantly after darkish will herald a spectacular view of a really slender, 5%-illuminated waxing crescent moon near Venus shining at magnitude -4.8. In a small telescope, Venus will probably be a 13%-lit crescent — a uncommon and delightful sight.
A “blood moon”: March 13-14, 2025 (evening)
It’s been a barren time for whole lunar eclipses of late, with no such incidence since 2022. That modifications in a single day on March 13-14, when the total Worm Moon will rise and, later that evening, drift into Earth’s darkish umbral shadow. The total “blood moon” occasion — through which the moon will first lose its brightness after which step by step flip pink, then vice versa — will take simply over six hours. However, the all-important totality — when 100% of the lunar floor is draped in orange-red mild — will final an opulent 65 minutes.
A shocking “dawn eclipse”: March 29, 2025 (dawn via noon)
The northeastern U.S., jap Canada, Europe and northern Russia will witness a partial photo voltaic eclipse. Arguably, one of the best views will probably be from Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec, which, if skies are clear on the jap horizon, will witness a giant, partially eclipsed dawn. In the U.Ok., about 30% to 40% of the solar will probably be blocked within the late morning.
A crescent moon, Venus and the Pleiades: June. 22, 2025 (earlier than dawn)
Look east an hour earlier than dawn, and you will see a surprising sight: A 13%-lit waning crescent moon will shine simply above two lovely objects: shiny Venus on one aspect and the attractive Pleiades star cluster on the opposite.
A crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter: July 22, 2025 (earlier than dawn)
In the jap sky earlier than dawn, a surprising tableau of three celestial objects will seem: Jupiter rising beneath a fragile, 7%-lit waning crescent moon, with Venus above. The bright-red supergiant star Aldebaran will align with the trio.
A crescent moon near Venus, Jupiter and Mercury: Aug. 19-21, 2025 (earlier than dawn)
An hour earlier than dawn on three successive mornings in August, there will probably be alternatives to see a stupendous conjunction within the east: Jupiter on the prime, Venus beneath, and Mercury near the horizon. The moon will go via this lineup over three days, waning to a slim crescent because it does so.
A crescent moon near Venus and Regulus: Sept. 19, 2025 (earlier than dawn)
To see two objects in a really shut conjunction is comparatively uncommon. To see three in an ideal shut alignment is sort of unparalleled. Rising within the east shortly earlier than daybreak — however nonetheless in darkness — will probably be a 6%-lit waning crescent moon that can seem extraordinarily near Venus. Regulus, the brightest star within the constellation Leo, will probably be simply past the duo. This particular sight may have astrophotographers up early.
A second whole lunar eclipse: Sept. 7, 2025 (evening)
The second whole lunar eclipse of the 12 months will probably be seen solely from Australia, Asia, Africa and Europe. Arguably, one of the best views will probably be from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, the place the phenomenon will happen excessive within the sky in the course of the evening, because it did within the March 2025 eclipse in North America. From Europe, the occasion will happen because the moon rises, making it onerous to see. Totality will final 82 minutes.
A second partial photo voltaic eclipse: Sept. 21, 2025
If you wish to see the moon’s silhouette go throughout the solar, get to New Zealand — or on a ship within the Pacific Ocean — to witness as a lot as 80% of the solar blocked by the moon. Stewart Island, to the south of New Zealand’s South Island, will see a 73% eclipse, whereas Auckland on the North Island will see a 60% eclipse.
The closest supermoon since 2019: Nov. 5, 2025 (after sundown)
There will probably be three “supermoons” in 2025. As a consequence of the moon’s elliptical orbit round Earth, the Beaver Moon will probably be simply 221,818 miles (356,980 kilometers) from Earth, which, in keeping with AstroPixels, would be the closest a full moon has gotten to our planet since 2019. There will probably be two extra supermoons in 2025: the Hunter’s Moon, on Oct. 7, and the Cold Moon, on Dec. 4.
A low-hanging Strawberry Moon: Jun. 10, 2025 (after sundown)
Every 18.6 years, the moon rises to its highest and sinks to its lowest within the sky. This phenomenon, referred to as a main lunar standstill, will peak in 2025, with the lowest-hanging full moon for 18.6 years occurring on June 10.
