See the First Meteor Shower of the Year, 6 Planets in One Night, and More in January

While 2024 could have set the astrotourism bar excessive, 2025 has a number of night-sky marvels in retailer, too — together with many which might be set to grace our skies this month.

January has a meteor bathe, top-notch planet sightings, and a planet parade on the docket. What’s much more thrilling: the latest northern lights exercise reveals no indicators of slowing down, as we’re smack-dab in the midst of the solar’s peak exercise interval generally known as “photo voltaic most.” If you wish to see the northern lights, 2025 is the yr to make it occur, and listed below are our favourite locations to plan your aurora-hunting journey.

Read on for a handful of January night-sky sights to kick off 2025 with a bang — or, higher but, a taking pictures star.

Jan. 2-3: Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Kick off the New Year with a spectacular present because the Quadrantid meteor bathe peaks between Jan. 2-3. The complete bathe runs till Jan. 16, however this Jan. 2-3 evening is your greatest wager for “taking pictures stars” and fireballs — significantly with the comparatively dim waxing crescent moon, which is simply 11 % full, in keeping with the American Meteor Society. The Quadrantids can produce a median of 25 meteors per hour at peak, and below darkish skies. The bathe is understood for its brilliant fireballs. To catch the spectacle, watch the northeast sky late on Jan. 2 and early Jan. 3.

Jan. 4: Saturn-moon meetup

Come Jan. 4, level your eyes to the southern sky as Saturn and the moon will seemingly “meet” simply after sunset. Both will seem inside one binocular subject of view, in keeping with astronomy web site When the Curves Line Up, though you’ll want a telescope to see planet particulars like Saturn’s dazzling rings. Don’t miss brilliant Venus slightly below the duo.

Jan. 10: Venus Reaches Greatest Eastern Elongation

On the night of Jan. 10, Venus will attain its best jap elongation — its easternmost distance from the solar. This is likely one of the greatest occasions of the yr for Venus viewing. Catch the planet slightly below Saturn within the southwest sky after sundown; it is going to set beneath the western horizon round 9:30 p.m., in keeping with stargazing web site Stellarium.

Jan. 13: Full Wolf Moon

January’s full moon is called the wolf moon for the chance of listening to wolves round this time. It reaches its fullest at 5:27 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, in keeping with The Old Farmer’s Almanac. You can spot it above the jap horizon as soon as the solar units. And, if you wish to improve your odds of truly listening to a wolf this evening, head to Yellowstone — it’s among the many greatest locations within the U.S. to expertise the elusive canines.

Jan. 15-16: Mars reaches opposition

Get prepared for the very best Mars viewing of the yr — and for the subsequent two years — from Jan. 15-16. The pink planet solely reaches opposition (when Earth is between the solar and a planet) each two years, in keeping with EarthSky. That means Mars might be brighter and extra viewable than regular come mid-January. It will rise simply after sundown above the jap horizon and can transfer towards the western horizon till daybreak. Mars formally reaches opposition at 10 p.m. EST on Jan. 15. You can see Mars with the bare eye, however stargazing binoculars or a telescope will improve your view.

Jan. 21: Planet Parade

Catch six planets — Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Neptune, Saturn, and Uranus — concurrently touring via the sky on the evening of Jan. 21. The planets will seem after sundown till round 9 p.m. native time. You can admire all however Uranus and Neptune with the bare eye, though, like Mars’ opposition, viewing via binoculars or a telescope will assist you higher admire the entire planets.