See a crescent moon along with Venus, then occult Saturn, both aspect of the height of the … [+]
How was 2024 for you? For skywatchers and stargazers, it was an excellent yr. From a complete photo voltaic eclipse throughout North America to a naked-eye comet and a flurry of intense shows of the Northern Lights at low latitudes, there was little 2024 didn’t have.
2025 might have none of those occasions, however it would begin sturdy, with three notable happenings coming inside 24 hours on Jan. 3/4, 2025.
Here’s the whole lot you should know to kick off 2025 with a celestial spectacular — together with an choice to see every one on-line.
See a crescent moon and Venus in conjunction on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
A Moon-Venus Conjunction
Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
A surprising scene will await anybody who heads outdoors and appears to the southwest sky about an hour after the solar dips beneath the horizon — clear skies permitting. A shiny Venus — shining as an excellent “Evening Star” — will shine brightly, simply a few levels away from a fragile 18%-lit waxing crescent moon. Wow! A a lot dimmer Saturn will cling majestically above them.
The Virtual Telescope will broadcast reside views on YouTube beginning at 16:45 UTC (11:45 a.m. EST) on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peaks
Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
The Quadrantids — which peak simply because the sight of the crescent moon and Venus sink in the direction of the horizon — aren’t usually on the radar of many sky-watchers, largely as a result of they happen when chilly and sometimes cloudy within the Northern Hemisphere. However, when you have a transparent sky, it is price heading outdoors after darkish as a result of the Quadrantids can ship as much as 120 “taking pictures stars” per hour at their peak, which happens on Jan. 3.
Not solely that, however the Quadrantids can typically characteristic shiny fireball meteors that may gentle up any a part of the night time sky. The meteors come from the 2003 EH1, a thriller object that NASA says could possibly be a “rock comet.”
If you will have clouds, The Virtual Telescope will present reside views from its wide-angle digicam put in in Manciano, Tuscany, Italy, from 17:00 UTC (midday EST) on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025.
A crescent moon will occult Saturn on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
A Moon-Saturn Conjunction
Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025
Just 24 hours after seeing Venus along with a crescent moon and the upcoming peak of the Quadrantids, a 3rd gorgeous sight will likely be seen — an eclipse (or occultation) of Saturn by the moon. However, this one will likely be geographically restricted.
WhereverWherever you might be, you’ll see Saturn lower than a level beneath a 28%-lit waxing crescent moon within the southwest about an hour after sundown. As seen solely from Europe, Africa, western Russia and jap Greenland, the moon will occult Saturn, in line with in-the-sky.org, which has a useful map displaying the visibility of the occultation worldwide. It’s the moon’s final simply seen occultation of Saturn for 11 years.
The Virtual Telescope Project will host an internet statement from 17:15 UTC (12:15 p.m. EST) on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.
Wishing you clear skies and vast eyes.
