Bring out your binoculars! On Saturday (Jan. 4), stargazers in the U.K. and most regions of Western and Central Europe will have the opportunity to witness Saturn disappear behind the crescent moon — an occurrence referred to as a lunar occultation. There are only two lunar occultations of Saturn in 2025, so this spectacular event is one you won’t want to overlook.
For the optimal viewing experience, select a spot that is distant from artificial lighting and allow approximately thirty minutes for your eyes to adapt to the darkness.
Saturn is extremely luminous, making it easily visible to the naked eye. However, utilizing a pair of quality binoculars or a telescope can greatly enhance your view of Saturn as it grazes the moon’s edge. Binoculars or a telescope will reveal the moon’s craters with impressive detail, and you’ll even be able to observe Saturn’s rings and moons.
On Jan. 4, the moon will be a waxing crescent, approximately 19% illuminated. The moon and Saturn will stay close together for the entire night, setting and rising around the same time. The times for rise and set can differ slightly based on your location. You can utilize applications like Stellarium or websites such as Time and Date to determine when the moon and the planets will rise and fall in your precise area.
Saturn will obscure itself behind the dark portion of the moon around 5:15 p.m. GMT and will reappear from behind the bright part of the moon at about 6:30 p.m. GMT. Nonetheless, these timings will be subject to slight variations depending on your precise position. You can input your location in the sidebar on In-the-Sky, which will provide you with a more specific time.
The lunar occultation of Saturn will be observable throughout the U.K. and a majority of Western and Central Europe, along with specific areas of Northern Europe and Northern Africa. This map illustrates the nations where this lunar occultation will be visible.
Although the lunar occultation of Saturn may not be observable globally, you can still view the conjunction of the moon and Saturn if you miss the lunar event. Look for Saturn and the moon in the southwestern sky, with the moon appearing approximately 30 degrees above the horizon.
The subsequent lunar occultation will occur in February, observable from extreme northern latitudes, portions of Russia, and eastern Asia. Following that, the next easily observable lunar occultation of Saturn will take place in 2037.