2025 Skywatching Highlights: Eclipses, Meteor Showers, and Planetary Alignments

Astronomy enthusiasts can look forward to lunar eclipses, major meteor showers, and rare planetary phenomena throughout the year.

Two total lunar eclipses will occur in 2025, with the first visible on March 14 in New Zealand and parts of Australia, and the second occurring on September 8, visible across multiple regions globally.
The Quadrantids meteor shower kicks off the year, peaking on January 2–3, with up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions.
Saturn's rings will appear to vanish on March 24 due to Earth passing through the plane of its rings, though this phenomenon will be difficult to observe directly due to the planet's proximity to the Sun at that time.
The Eta Aquariids in May and the Geminids in December are expected to be the year's most prominent meteor showers, offering optimal viewing opportunities due to minimal moonlight interference.
Rare planetary alignments will occur on specific dates, including Venus and Jupiter appearing close together on August 12–13, creating striking visual patterns in the early morning sky.