Table of contents

What: The waxing crescent moon meet Venus, the brightest planet

When: Friday January 3, approx. 20 minutes to 4 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50)

How: Find a low southwest horizon. Start looking above that horizon shortly after sunset. Venus and the crescent moon should appear some time after sunset and they will set about four hours after the sun. You can use binoculars to help you find them.

What: The waxing crescent moon meets Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Saturday January 4, approx. 1 hour after sunset to 5 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50)

How: Wait until darkness, at least an hour after sunset. Find the moon toward the south-southwest. Beside it, you’ll see what looks like a bright star, which is actually Saturn. The much brighter “star” further west is Venus. You can use binoculars to see them up close, but they’ll get further apart as the night progresses.

What: The waxing gibbous moon passes in front of the bright Pleiades star cluster

When: Thursday January 9, evening (exact time depends on location)

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Skymaster 9x63), or telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Check an astronomy app like SkySafari to see if the occultation is visible from your location.

Once you’ve determined that it’ll be visible from your location, find a location away from light pollution. The moon will rise in early afternoon in the northeast, but the Pleiades cluster will not be visible until about an hour and a half after sunset, when it’s dark. The moon will pass in front of the star cluster sometime in the evening, depending on your location. To find the exact timing of the occultation, use an app like SkySafari. Centre on the moon, go to January 9 in the evening, and move forward in time by minutes to see when the Pleiades appear to move behind the moon and reappear. Note that the disappearance or reappearance will only be visible if the objects are above the horizon but the sun is below the horizon. If the sun is not far below the horizon, it may be possible to see but difficult because of the bright dawn light.

Note that the gibbous moon is a lot brighter than the Pleiades, and binoculars or a telescope would make the observation a lot easier.

If the occultation is not visible from your location, it will be a close conjunction of the moon and Pleiades. Look at the moon anytime in the night of January 9 to 10 to see the two celestial objects together.

What: The waxing gibbous moon meets with Jupiter, the king of the planets

When: Friday January 10, starting approx. 1.5 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: The waxing gibbous moon will rise toward the northeast in mid-afternoon, but you’ll need to wait until darkness to see Jupiter close to it. They will rise higher in the sky for a few hours and keep making their way west until they set in the northwest before sunrise. They will get further from each other as the night progresses.

Where: Most of North America and west Africa

What: The full moon passes in front of Mars, the red planet

When: Monday January 13, evening (exact time depends on location)

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Skymaster 9x63), or telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Check an astronomy app like SkySafari to see if the occultation is visible from your location. This event is visible from most of North America (except northwest Canada and Alaska) and western Africa.

Once you’ve determined that it’ll be visible from your location, find a place away from light pollution. The moon and Mars will get closer and closer to each other during the evening until Saturn hides behind the moon. To find the exact timing of the occultation, use an app like SkySafari. Centre on the moon, go to Monday January 13 in the evening, and move forward and backward in time by minutes to see when Mars appears to move behind the moon and reappear. Note that the disappearance or reappearance will only be visible if the objects are above the horizon but the sun is below the horizon. If the sun is not far below the horizon, it may be possible to see but difficult because of the bright dusk light.

If the occultation is not visible from your location, it will be a close conjunction of the moon and Mars. Look at the full moon anytime in the evening of January 13 (for the Americas) to see the two celestial jewels together. A telescope can reveal some colour and detail on Mars while the moon is in the same field of view.

January’s full moon is at its fullest at 5:28pm Eastern Time on January 13. This means that for most of North and South America, it will be at its fullest on the evening of January 13. For the rest of the world, it’ll be almost equally full on the evenings of January 13 and 14.

Named after the wolves that are often heard howling at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, the Full Wolf Moon will rise towards the northeast shortly before sunset on January 13.

What: Venus, the brightest planet, meets with Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Wednesday to Monday, January 15 to 20, approx. 45 minutes after sunset to approx. 4 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Skymaster 9x63)

How: Once the sunset light has faded, find Venus close toward the southwest, with Saturn near it, both looking like bright stars. Venus is the brighter of the two. They will set about 4 hours after the sun, but will look brighter early in the evening when they’re higher in the sky.

What: The waxing crescent moon meets with Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Friday January 31, approx. 45 minutes after sunset to approx. 2 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Skymaster 9x63)

How: Once the sunset light has faded, find the moon close to the southwest horizon, with Saturn near it, looking like a bright star. Don’t be fooled by the much brighter Venus, higher above the moon and Saturn. They will set together about 2 hours after the sun, but will look brighter early in the evening when they’re higher in the sky.

What: The waxing crescent moon meets with Venus, the brightest planet, and Neptune, the furthest planet

When: Saturday February 1, approx. 30 minutes after sunset to approx. 3 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: Once the sunset light has faded a bit, find the moon above the southwest horizon, and you should see Venus to its right, looking like a very bright star. To see Neptune, you’ll need binoculars and a dark sky, at least 1.5 hours after sunset. Neptune will be faint and challenging to spot, depending on conditions and experience level. They will set about 4 hours after the sun.

What: The waxing gibbous moon passes in front of the bright Pleiades star cluster

When: Night of Wednesday to Thursday February 5 to 6 (exact time depends on location)

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Check an astronomy app like SkySafari or Mobile Observatory to see if the occultation is visible from your location. The moon and Pleiades will rise in the northeast; visibility and exact timing depend on your area. If it’s not visible, it will instead appear as a close conjunction. Binoculars or a telescope will help greatly, as the gibbous moon is much brighter than the Pleiades.

What: The waxing gibbous moon meets Jupiter, the king of the planets

When: Thursday February 6, starting approx. 1.5 hours after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: The waxing gibbous moon will rise in the northeast during the afternoon, becoming visible after sunset. Jupiter will appear close to it in the evening sky. They’ll be highest a couple of hours after sunset, setting in the northwest before sunrise.

What: The waning gibbous moon passes very close to Spica, the brightest star in Virgo

When: Night of Sunday to Monday, February 16 to 17, approx. midnight to 1.5 hours before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: The moon will rise around 11pm toward the east with Spica nearby. The two will be easiest to see after midnight when they’re higher in the sky. Their closest approach varies by location but both will fit easily within a binocular view.

What: Mercury meets with Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Monday February 24, approx. 45 minutes after sunset to approx. 1 hour after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: After sunset, look very close to the western horizon to spot Mercury and Saturn. Mercury will be the brighter of the two, slightly to the right. Binoculars or a small telescope will make it much easier. They’ll be below bright Venus but much closer to the horizon.

What: The very thin waxing crescent moon meets with Mercury

When: Friday February 28, approx. 45 minutes after sunset to approx. 1 hour after sunset

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: Look for the very thin crescent moon above the western horizon shortly after sunset. Mercury will be just above it, both low and faint — binoculars will help. You’ll need a perfectly clear, unobstructed view.

What: The full moon meets Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Sunday, October 5, all night

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: The moon will rise toward the east around the time of sunset on October 5, and Saturn will appear below it once the light of dusk has left. They will cross the sky together all night long and can be seen with the naked eye or binoculars. They will set together about an hour before sunrise.

What: The waning gibbous moon passes in front of the bright Pleiades star cluster

When: Night of Thursday to Friday, October 9 to 10 (exact time depends on location)

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Check an astronomy app like SkySafari or Mobile Observatory to see if the occultation is visible from your location.

Once you’ve determined that it’ll be visible from your area, find a location away from light pollution. The moon will rise in early evening in the northeast, but the Pleiades cluster will not be visible until they are higher in the sky. The moon will pass in front of the star cluster sometime during the night, depending on your location. To find the exact timing of the occultation, use an app like SkySafari or Mobile Observatory. Centre on the moon, go to October 9 in the evening, and move forward in time by hours and minutes to see when the Pleiades appear to move behind the moon and reappear. Note that the disappearance or reappearance will only be visible if the objects are above the horizon but the sun is below the horizon. If the sun is not far below the horizon, it may be possible to see but difficult because of the bright dawn or dusk light.

Note that the gibbous moon is a lot brighter than the Pleiades, and binoculars or a telescope would make the observation a lot easier.

If the occultation is not visible from your location, it will be a close conjunction of the moon and Pleiades. Look at the moon anytime in the night of October 9 to 10 to see the two celestial objects together.

What: The third quarter moon meets Jupiter, the king of the planets

When: Night of Monday to Tuesday, October 13 to 14, approx. 11:30pm to 30 minutes before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: Look low in the sky toward the northeast starting around 11:30pm to see the third quarter moon rising, with Jupiter to its right. The two celestial objects will be visible to the naked eye, and they will disappear as the light of dawn fades in. They will be closer to each other in the earlier part of the night and slowly drift apart during the early morning.

What: The Earth will pass through debris left by comet Halley, creating the Orionid meteor shower

When: October 15–27, all night (approx. 1.5 hours after sunset to 1.5 hours before sunrise)

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: The meteor shower technically starts around October 2, but it becomes more noticeable by mid-October. Meteors gradually increase in intensity until the peak around the night of October 21, then decrease over the next few days. For the best show, observe near October 21, though a day or two before or after can still provide great views.

Go as far away from city lights as you can and find a spot where you can lie down with lots of blankets and pillows, with a wide open view of the sky. Look up and wait. You can try to see them in the evening, but they tend to get better between midnight and dawn. They can appear anywhere in the sky but will all seem to radiate from the constellation of Orion.

2025 is an ideal year for the Orionids because they peak during the new moon, allowing us to see even the faintest meteors under dark skies.

What: The thin waning crescent moon meets Venus, the brightest planet

When: Sunday, October 19, approx. 1.5 hours to 30 minutes before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: Look low in the sky toward the east starting about one and a half hours before sunrise. The moon will be the first to rise, followed shortly by Venus to its left. The two celestial objects will be visible to the naked eye and close enough to observe together with binoculars. They will disappear as the light of dawn brightens the sky.

What: The ringed planet, Saturn, will appear to lose its rings

When: All of November, approx. 1.5 hours after sunset to midnight

Equipment needed: Telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Just like Earth, Saturn is inclined relative to the sun, which is how we're able to see its rings most of the time (from “above” or from “below”). But twice over Saturn's 29-year orbit around the sun, its rings end up perfectly edge-on from our perspective. And since they're razor thin relative to the size of the planet, they become practically invisible for a short time. They were exactly edge-on on March 23 of this year, but Saturn was too close to the sun to be observable. They are almost perfectly edge-on again for the entire month of November, which gives us a much better chance of observing this “disappearance of the rings”.

You will definitely need a telescope to witness this, and the most interesting thing would be to observe Saturn earlier in the year, when the rings are still visible but getting thinner, so you have something to compare to.

What: The waxing gibbous moon meets Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Saturday, November 1, approx. 1.5 hours after sunset to 2am

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: The moon will rise toward the east before sunset on November 1, but you’ll have to wait until darkness to see Saturn to the left of the moon. They will cross the sky together and get closer to each other later in the night. They can be seen with the naked eye or binoculars and will set together around 2am.

What: The waning gibbous moon meets Jupiter, the king of the planets

When: Night of Sunday to Monday, November 9 to 10, approx. 5 hours after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: Look low in the sky toward the northeast starting about 5 hours after sunset to see the waning gibbous moon rising, followed by Jupiter below it. The two celestial objects will be visible to the naked eye, and they will disappear as the light of dawn fades in. They will get closer to each other in the later part of the night.

What: The waxing gibbous moon meets Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Friday and Saturday, November 28 and 29, approx. 1.5 hours after sunset to 11pm

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: The moon will rise toward the east in mid-afternoon on November 28 and 29, but you’ll have to wait until darkness to see Saturn. Saturn will be left of the moon on the 28th and right of the moon on the 29th. They will cross the sky together until they set before midnight.

What: The waxing gibbous moon passes in front of the bright Pleiades star cluster

When: Night of Wednesday to Thursday, December 3 to 4 (exact time depends on location)

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Check an astronomy app like SkySafari or Mobile Observatory to see if the occultation is visible from your location.

Once you’ve determined that it’ll be visible from your area, find a location away from light pollution. The moon will rise in late afternoon in the northeast, but the Pleiades cluster will not be visible until they are higher in the sky and the sky is dark. The moon will pass in front of the star cluster sometime during the night, depending on your location. To find the exact timing of the occultation, use an app like SkySafari or Mobile Observatory. Centre on the moon, go to December 3 in the evening, and move forward in time by hours and minutes to see when the Pleiades appear to move behind the moon and reappear. Note that the disappearance or reappearance will only be visible if the objects are above the horizon but the sun is below the horizon. If the sun is not far below the horizon, it may be possible to see but difficult because of the bright dawn or dusk light.

Note that the gibbous moon is a lot brighter than the Pleiades, and binoculars or a telescope would make the observation a lot easier.

If the occultation is not visible from your location, it will be a close conjunction of the moon and Pleiades. Look at the moon anytime in the night of December 3 to 4 to see the two celestial objects together.

What: The waning gibbous moon meets Jupiter, the king of the planets

When: Saturday and Sunday, December 6 and 7, approx. 3 hours after sunset to 1 hour before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye

How: Look low in the sky toward the northeast starting about three hours after sunset to see the waning gibbous moon rising with Jupiter. On the 6th, the moon will be above Jupiter, and on the 7th, it will be to the left of Jupiter. The two celestial objects will be visible to the naked eye, and they will disappear as the light of dawn fades in. They will be closest to each other in the early morning hours of December 7.

Possibly the most active meteor shower of the year, the Geminids are sure to light up the sky every year. The main reason the Perseids are more popular is because they tend to be easier to see, thanks to the warmer weather in August. Unlike most meteor showers’ sources, which are icy comets, the body responsible for the Geminid meteor shower is a rocky comet called 3200 Phaethon. On its orbit around the sun, the Earth slams into debris left by 3200 Phaethon once a year and those little bits of comet are what we observe as shooting stars!

The meteor shower technically starts around December 7 and lasts until the 17th, but this shower is best observed as close to the peak as possible, on the night of December 13 to 14. They can be seen early in the evening all the way until dawn, but the best time to watch them is around 2am, when the constellation of Gemini is straight overhead.

Go as far away from city lights as you can and find a spot where you can lie down with lots of blankets and pillows, with a wide open view of the sky. Look up and wait. They can be seen in any part of the sky, but will all appear to emanate from the constellation of Gemini. This can be be a cold time of year and when you’re not moving much, it feels even colder, so I recommend wearing lots of extra warm clothes and packing your favourite hot drink.

2025 is a very good year for this shower since the peak happens during the waning crescent moon, which rises after 2am. As a bonus, the moon will be right beside Spica on the 14th when it rises in early morning.

What: The waning gibbous moon meets Regulus, the brightest star in Leo

When: Night of Tuesday to Wednesday, December 9 to 10, approx. 10pm to 1.5 hours before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye, binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm), or telescope (recommendations: Starsense Explorer LT 80AZ or Starsense Explorer LT 114AZ)

How: Look low in the sky toward the east to northeast around 10pm. The moon will rise with Regulus right beside it. From certain locations in Canada, there will actually be an occultation of Regulus, where it will pass directly behind the moon. Other locations will have a close conjunction of the two objects that is beautiful especially through a telescope.

What: The waning crescent moon meets Spica, the brightest star in Virgo

When: Sunday, December 14, approx. 4 hours to 1.5 hours before sunrise

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: Look low in the sky toward the east to northeast. The moon will rise with Spica to its left about five hours before sunrise, but they will become more easily visible a little later when they’re higher in the sky.

What: The first quarter moon meets Saturn, the ringed planet

When: Friday, December 26, approx. 1.5 hours after sunset to 11pm

Equipment needed: Naked eye or binoculars (recommendations: Cometron 7x50 or Ultima 10x50mm)

How: The moon will rise toward the east in early afternoon, but you’ll have to wait until darkness to see Saturn, below the moon. They will cross the sky together until they set before midnight.