From the occlusion of Mars to alignments with Venus and Jupiter, the moon will participate in a series of breathtaking events in 2025, appearing at its largest and most luminous since 2019.
Below are some dates for this year’s moon-watching calendar.
If you seek some stargazing equipment to enhance your experience of the lunar spectacles in 2025, our top telescopes and top binoculars guides may prove useful. Additionally, we provide a dedicated moon-watching guide to help you familiarize yourself with our lunar satellite.
The moon, Venus and Saturn: Jan. 3, 2025 (after sunset)
Gaze southwest after sunset on Jan. 3, and you’ll spot a 17%-illuminated waxing crescent moon in close proximity to Venus. The planet will appear about half-lit from Earth, with Saturn positioned above the duo.
Saturn eclipsed by the moon: Jan. 4, 2025 (after sunset)
Saturn will be obscured by a 27%-lit waxing crescent moon for approximately an hour shortly after sunset in the southwest, exclusively visible to those in Europe. For viewers in North America, the two celestial bodies will appear strikingly close.
A crescent moon adjacent to brilliant Venus: Feb. 1, 2025 (after sunset)
A 15%-lit waxing crescent moon will be situated near Venus in the western horizon right after sunset. Gleaming at a magnitude of -4.8, Venus will shine brightly. Utilizing a small telescope on Venus, you’ll detect it as a 37%-lit crescent.
Mars obscured by a full moon: Jan. 13-14, 2025 (after sunset)
Mars will reach opposition, indicating it will appear the largest and brightest from Earth. In a unique celestial event, it will also be hidden by the full moon for more than an hour. The precise timing varies by location, but for Washington, D.C., Mars will vanish behind the moon at 9:16 p.m. EST and reappear at 10:31 p.m. EST on Jan. 13, according to In-The-Sky.org, which provides timings for all locations.
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A crescent moon and a crescent Venus: March 2, 2025 (after sunset)
In the third event of 2025, a look southwest right after dusk will reveal a stunning sight of a very thin, 5%-lit waxing crescent moon near Venus shining at magnitude -4.8. In a small telescope, Venus will display as a 13%-lit crescent — a rare and exquisite view.
A “blood moon”: March 13-14, 2025 (night)
There has been a dry spell regarding total lunar eclipses lately, with no occurrences since 2022. This will change overnight on March 13-14, as the full Worm Moon will rise and, later that same night, move into Earth’s shadow. The entire “blood moon” phenomenon — where the moon will initially fade in brilliance and then gradually turn red — will…
Mark your calendar for the partial solar eclipse occurring on March 29, 2025. (Image credit: Roudny Chatelain / 500px via Getty Images)
The northeastern United States, eastern Canada, Europe, and northern Russia will experience a partial solar eclipse. The prime viewing locations are likely to be Maine, New Brunswick, and Quebec, which, assuming clear skies to the east, will see a prominent sunrise with a significant partial eclipse. In the United Kingdom, approximately 30% to 40% of the sun will be obscured in the late morning.
A crescent moon, Venus and the Pleiades: June 22, 2025 (before sunrise)
Look towards the east one hour prior to sunrise, and you will witness a captivating scene: a waning crescent moon illuminated at 13% will be positioned just above two striking objects: brilliant Venus on one side and the lovely Pleiades star cluster on the other.
A crescent moon, Venus and Jupiter: July 22, 2025 (before sunrise)
In the eastern sky just before dawn, an extraordinary alignment of three celestial phenomena will present itself: Jupiter ascending under a delicate waning crescent moon lit at 7%, with Venus positioned above. The brilliant red supergiant star Aldebaran will align near this trio.
A crescent moon near Venus, Jupiter and Mercury: Aug. 19-21, 2025 (before sunrise)
On three consecutive mornings in August, one hour before dawn, you will have the chance to view an enchanting conjunction in the east: Jupiter positioned at the top, Venus beneath it, and Mercury close to the horizon. The moon will traverse this formation over three days, diminishing to a narrow crescent as it moves through.
A crescent moon near Venus and Regulus: Sept. 19, 2025 (before sunrise)
Experiencing two celestial objects in very close proximity is fairly uncommon. However, to observe three in perfect alignment is virtually unprecedented. Shortly before dawn while still shrouded in darkness, a 6%-lit waning crescent moon will rise in the east, appearing extremely close to Venus. Regulus, the most luminous star in the constellation Leo, will be positioned just beyond this pair. This remarkable display will have astrophotographers rising early to capture the moment.
A second total lunar eclipse: Sept. 7, 2025 (night)
The second total lunar eclipse of the year will be observable exclusively from Australia, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The most favorable views are expected to be in the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, where the celestial event will unfold high in the sky during the middle of the night, similar to the March 2025 eclipse in North America. For observers in Europe, the occurrence will be visible as the moon rises, making it more challenging to view. The duration of totality will be 82 minutes.
A second partial solar eclipse: Sept. 21, 2025
If you want to observe the shadow of the moon crossing the sun, consider traveling to New Zealand — or to a ship in the Pacific Ocean — to witness up to 80% of the sun obscured by the moon. Stewart Island, situated south of New Zealand’s South Island, will experience a 73% eclipse, while Auckland on the North Island will observe a 60% eclipse.
The nearest supermoon since 2019: Nov. 5, 2025 (after sunset)
There will be three “supermoons” in 2025. Due to the moon’s elliptical path around Earth, the Beaver Moon will be merely 221,818 miles (356,980 kilometers) away from Earth, which, as stated by AstroPixels, marks the closest a full moon has approached our planet since 2019. Two additional supermoons will take place in 2025: the Hunter’s Moon on Oct. 7, and the Cold Moon on Dec. 4.
A low-hanging Strawberry Moon: Jun. 10, 2025 (after sunset)
Every 18.6 years, the moon reaches its zenith and descends to its nadir in the sky. This occurrence, referred to as a major lunar standstill, will reach its climax in 2025, with the lowest-hanging full moon in 18.6 years occurring on June 10.