This month will see the total “Wolf Moon” occult Mars for just a few hours as seen from North America.
There’s a lot in retailer for sky-watchers in 2025 (strive the most important supermoon for years), however why not start with among the yr’s best celestial sights?
January begins with a shocking meteor bathe — the final till April — and the moon occulting the Pleiades, a half-lit Venus, and, most remarkably, a complete eclipse of a vibrant Mars by the moon.
Here’s all the things you might want to find out about stargazing, moon-watching and the evening sky in January 2025:
1. A Forgotten Meteor Shower
When: instantly after sundown on Friday, Jan. 3, 2025
Where: all-sky
The Quadrantids are usually not a widely known meteor bathe, however they’ll produce about 120 “taking pictures stars” per hour at their peak. That occurs on Jan. 3. The Quadrantids are additionally recognized for his or her vibrant fireball meteors, which might seem anyplace within the evening sky. It needs to be a superb present this yr, although the height will likely be ongoing as darkness falls in North America, so get wanting as quickly because it will get darkish. A crescent moon should not get in the best way an excessive amount of.
The Pleiades (or the Seven Sisters) is the title of an open cluster within the constellation Taurus.
2. The Moon Moves Through The ‘Seven Sisters’
When: an hour after sundown on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025
Where: east
The Pleiades is likely one of the most lovely sights within the evening sky. This open cluster of seven vibrant stars (also called the “Seven Sisters”) is near the ecliptic — the solar’s path by way of our daytime sky — roughly the place you will additionally discover the moon. So often, the moon covers up (or occults) the Pleiades. Look excessive above east when it will get darkish for an 81%-lit waxing gibbous moon to maneuver throughout the Pleiades over three or 4 hours. Use binoculars.
3. A Half-Lit Venus
When: half-hour after sundown on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025
Where: southwest
Planets have phases — however solely two of them. If you’ve got ever wished to see Venus half-lit — and searching somewhat just like the moon — put a small telescope on it after sundown tonight. It’s at a short dichotomy — its half-lit section — as a result of it is an internal planet, with respect to Earth, so it by no means seems “full” from our viewpoint as a result of it by no means will get the solar’s full glare. It’s so shut and vibrant that solely these with telescopes can see its phases.
The altering obvious measurement and section of illumination of the planet Venus photographed between … [+]
4. The Moon Occults Mars
When: just a few hours after sundown on Monday, Jan. 13-Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025
Where: southern sky
Here comes one of many highlights of 2025 — the intense planet Mars was eclipsed for just a few hours by a near-full “Wolf Moon.” The motion will happen between 8:44 p.m. EST on Monday, Jan. 13 and 00:52 a.m. EST on Tuesday, Jan. 14, however precise timings will rely on the place you observe from. See In-the-sky.org and its helpful map and timings for extra particulars.
Mars will come to its vibrant opposition this month for the primary time since 2022.
5. A Full ‘Wolf Moon’ Rises
When: moonrise the place you might be throughout nightfall on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025
Where: east
The day after a major astronomical occasion (see above) comes the rising of January’s full moon, the “Wolf Moon.” Get someplace with a superb view of the japanese horizon to look at it seem simply after the solar has set within the west.
6. Mars At Its Biggest, Brightest And Best
When: after sundown on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025
Where: east
At its once-in-26-months opposition, Mars is a shocking sight to the bare eye or by way of a telescope. At its largest, brightest, and finest, the visibly purple planet will rise within the east throughout nightfall and set within the west throughout daybreak. The planet will have a look at its easiest this week and subsequent however stay seen within the evening sky till the top of November.
7. Venus And Saturn In Conjunction
When: simply after sundown on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025
Where: west
The sight of two planets seemingly shut to one another within the evening sky is gorgeous, however the keen-eyed ought to watch this occasion over just a few weeks, throughout which Venus and Saturn will inch nearer every evening earlier than the massive evening, then drift away. It’s a handy post-sunset sight low within the western sky.
The instances and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For essentially the most correct location-specific info, seek the advice of on-line planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and extensive eyes.
