2025 holds plenty of astronomical surprises in the months to come. Scroll through this list and mark your calendars so you don’t miss any supermoons, meteor showers, or amazing views of the planets!
Make sure to check out the Geminids Meteor Shower – the biggest one of 2025.
Elongation (western/eastern): Elongation is the angle between the sun and a planet as viewed from a stationary point on Earth. The term “elongation” is used for inferior planets, the planets that are located closer to the sun than Earth is. When an inferior planet reaches it’s “greatest elongation” it has reached the maximum angle between itself and the sun. As these planets get further from the sun’s glare, they become easier to see.
Opposition: Opposition is the same as elongation, meaning the angle between the sun and a planet as viewed from a stationary point on Earth. “Opposition” is used for superior planets, which are planets located further from the sun than Earth. When a superior planet reaches opposition, it is located directly opposite to the sun. As these planets get further from the sun’s glare, they become easier to see.
Supermoon: A supermoon occurs when the moon is in its full moon phase while simultaneously reaching its closest orbit point to earth. Although “supermoon” is not an official scientific term, it was coined due to the moon’s appearance as up to 14% bigger and up to 30% brighter than the faintest moon of the year.
All photos courtesy of NASA.
Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Occurring on March 8th
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest eastern elongation on the evening of March 8th. It will be visible low in the western sky, directly after sunset. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonTotal Lunar Eclipse
Occurring on March 14th
A total lunar eclipse will occur on March 14th. It will be visible across North America, Mexico, Central America, and South America. NASA | NASA Scientific Visualization StudioMercury at Greatest Western Elongation
Occurring on April 22nd
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest western elongation on the morning of April 22nd. It will be visible low in the eastern sky, right before sunrise. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonLyrids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on April 22 – April 23
The Lyrids Meteor Shower occurs from April 16th to April 25th, and will reach its peak on the night of April 22nd and the morning of April 23rd. This shower will produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Lyra constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA/JSC/D. PettitEta Aquariids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on May 6 – May 7
The Eta Aquariids Meteor Shower occurs from April 19 to May 28, and will reach its peak on the night of May 6th and the morning of May 7th. This shower will produce up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Aquarius constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA All Sky Fireball Network stationVenus at Greatest Western Elongation
Occurring on May 31st
Venus will reach a point of its greatest western elongation on the evening of May 31st. It will be visible low in the eastern sky, right before sunset. NASA | NASA/JPL-CaltechMercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Occurring on July 4th
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest eastern elongation on the evening of July 4th. It will be visible low in the western sky, directly after sunset. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonDelta Aquariids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on July 28 – July 29
The Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower occurs from July 12 – August 23, and will reach its peak on the night of July 28th and the morning of July 29t. This shower will produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Aquarius constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA/Preston DychesPerseids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on August 12 – August 13
The Perseids Meteor Shower occurs from July 17 – August 24, and will reach its peak on the night of August 12th and the morning of August 13th. This shower will produce up to 60 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Perseus constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA/Preston DychesMercury at Greatest Western Elongation
Occurring on August 19th
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest eastern elongation on the morning of August 19th. It will be visible low in the eastern sky, right after sunrise. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonSaturn at Opposition
Occurring on September 21st
Saturn will reach a point of opposition on the evening of September 21st. On this evening, Saturn will reach its brightest state this year, and remain visible all night long. Some of its rings and moons may be visible with medium-to-large telescopes. NASA | NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science InstituteNeptune at Opposition
Occurring on September 23rd
Neptune will reach a point of opposition on the evening of September 23rd. On this evening, Neptune will reach its brightest state this year, and remain visible all night long. It will appear as a small blue dot, except with the use of powerful telescopes.Supermoon
Occurring on October 7th
A supermoon will dominate the sky on October 7th. This is the first of three supermoons to occur in 2025. NASA | NASA/Bill DunfordDraconids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on October 7
The Draconids Meteor Shower occurs from October 6 – October 10, and will reach its peak on the night of October 7th. This shower will produce up to 10 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight, but the supermoon occurring in the same week will block out some of the fainter meteors. Locate the shower by looking for the Draco constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | UWO Meteor Physics GroupOrionids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on October 21 – October 22
The Orionids Meteor Shower occurs from October 2 – November 7, and will reach its peak on the night of October 21st and the morning of October 22nd. This shower will produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight, and this evening will have a relatively absent moon – perfect for viewing the meteors. Locate the shower by looking for the Orion constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA/JPLMercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation
Occurring on October 29th
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest eastern elongation on the evening of October 29th. It will be visible low in the western sky, directly after sunset. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonTaurids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on November 4 – November 5
The Taurids Meteor Shower occurs from September 7 – December 10, and will reach its peak on the night of April 22nd and the morning of April 23rd. This shower will produce about 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight, but the supermoon occurring in the same week will block out some of the fainter meteors. Locate the shower by looking for the Taurus constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA All Sky Fireball Network stationSupermoon
Occurring on November 5th
A supermoon will dominate the sky on November 5th. This is the second of three supermoons to occur in 2025. NASA | NASA/JPL-CaltechLeonid Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on November 17 – November 18
The Leonids Meteor Shower occurs from November 6 – November 30, and will reach its peak on the night of November 17th and morning of November 18th. This shower will produce up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Leo constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | NASA/Ames Research Center/ISAS/Shinsuke Abe and Hajime YanoUranus at Opposition
Occurring on November 21
Uranus will reach a point of opposition on the evening of November 21st. On this evening, Uranus will reach its brightest state this year, and remain visible all night long. It will appear as a small blue-green dot, except with the use of powerful telescopes. NASA | NASA, ESA, CSA, STScISupermoon
Occurring on December 4th
A supermoon will dominate the sky on December 4th. This is the final supermoon of 2025. NASA| NASA/JPL-CaltechMercury at Greatest Wesetern Elongation
Occurring on December 7th
Mercury will reach a point of its greatest western elongation on the morning of December 7th. It will be visible low in the eastern sky, right before sunrise. NASA | NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Carnegie Institution of WashingtonGeminids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on December 13 – December 14
The Geminids Meteor Shower occurs from December 7 – December 17, and will reach its peak on the night of December 12th and the morning of December 14th. This shower will produce up to 120, multicolored meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Gemini constellation, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | Jacobs Space Exploration Group/ESSCAUrsids Meteor Shower
Peak occurring on December 21 – December 22
The Ursids Meteor Shower occurs from December 17 – December 25, and will reach its peak on the night of December 21st and the morning of December 22nd. This shower will produce about 5-10 meteors per hour at its peak. It is best to view in a dark location, far from city lights, after midnight. Locate the shower by looking for the Ursa Minor constellation, also known as The Little Dipper, but meteors will be visible in the entire sky. NASA | Space Station Crew
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Ezra Knapp (they/them) is a GSP 2020 and NKU 2024 graduate. They have creative writing published in Loch Norse Magazine (2023) and an essay in Pentangle (2023). They are now a co-editor-in-chief for Loch...
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