Every evening an annual parade of constellations passes above our heads however there are at all times thrilling, much less frequent occasions to look out for within the sky. The yr 2025 is not any exception. The evening sky is extra spectacular from a darkish nation sky, however you may see these occasions even when, like many others, you reside in a light-polluted metropolis. For many occasions you do not want a telescope or binoculars.
March and September: eclipses of the moon
Complete eclipses of the moon are extra frequent than these of the Solar. They are often seen from all of the areas on Earth the place it’s evening.
Not like eclipses of the Solar, lunar eclipses are secure to observe with the unaided eye. They’re additionally secure to {photograph}. A tripod will assist, as will a digicam or cellphone in a position to take timed exposures.
On the night of Friday 14 March, individuals in Aotearoa New Zealand will be capable of see a completely eclipsed moon because it rises above the horizon simply after sundown. Watchers in jap Australia will even get a quick glimpse of {a partially} eclipsed moon after moonrise, for 34 minutes from Sydney, 43 minutes from Brisbane and 16 minutes from Cairns.
Throughout the early morning of Monday 8 September, the total moon will transfer into the shadow of Earth and be completely eclipsed. The moon will flip a crimson or coppery color, as a result of daylight is bent or refracted by Earth’s environment on to the moon. The bent mild is crimson, as we’re wanting on the reflection of sunrises and sunsets from across the globe.
The eclipse begins with Earth’s shadow steadily protecting the moon over about an hour. After totality the shadow takes about an hour to go away the moon.
Seen from Australia’s east coast, the entire eclipse will final from 3.30am to 4.53am on 8 September. From New Zealand, this might be from 5.30am to moonset; from South Australia or the Northern Territory, 3am to 4.23am, and from Western Australia 1.30am to 2.53am.
March: Saturn’s ‘disappearing’ rings
Gazing at Saturn and its rings via a telescope is at all times a thrill, whether or not you might be seeing them for the primary or the a centesimal time. Nevertheless, in early 2025 the rings will appear to fade as Earth passes via the airplane of the rings.
This phenomenon happens twice throughout Saturn’s 29-year path across the Solar, that’s, at roughly 15-year intervals. Sadly, on 24 March, the date when this can happen, the planet might be too near the Solar within the sky for us to look at.
Nevertheless, within the evenings till mid-February and within the morning from late March, we will see Saturn with fairly slender, tilted rings.
Notice {that a} small telescope is required to see Saturn with or with out its rings. For those who don’t have one your self, you may go on an evening tour at a public observatory like Sydney Observatory or an observing session with a neighborhood astronomical group, corresponding to these at Melbourne Observatory with the Astronomical Society of Victoria.
Might and December: meteor showers
The 2 principal meteor showers of the yr are the Eta Aquariids and the Geminids.
In 2025, the Eta Aquariids are greatest seen on the morning of Wednesday 7 Might, whereas the Geminids might be most seen on the mornings of Sunday 14 December and Monday 15 December.
This yr, viewing circumstances for each meteor showers are beneficial, within the sense that there might be no vibrant moon within the sky throughout these mornings. To see them, look in direction of the north-east (Eta Aquariids) and north (Geminids) earlier than daybreak begins brightening the sky.
The darker the sky you could find, the higher. Steer clear of road lights or another mild.
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January, April and August: planets
The 5 planets you may see with the bare eye – Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn – transfer throughout the sky alongside a line referred to as the ecliptic.
Because the planets transfer, they often seem to cross shut to one another and tackle fascinating patterns. After all, they solely seem shut from our standpoint. In actuality the planets are tens or tons of of million kilometres aside.
In 2025, these patterns embody:
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18-19 January: the brightest planet, Venus, is near the ringed planet Saturn within the night sky.
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1-15 April: Mercury, Venus and Saturn kind a slowly altering compact group within the jap sky close to dawn.
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12-13 August: Venus and Jupiter, the 2 brightest planets, are solely separated by two moon-widths within the morning sky.
June and August: constellations
Because the yr progresses, completely different constellations seem within the night sky. The perpetual chase of Orion and Scorpius (the hunter and the scorpion) throughout the sky was famous in 2024.
In 2025, keep watch over the Southern Cross (referred to as Crux to astronomers) and Sagittarius (the archer).
The Southern Cross is the best-known constellation within the southern sky. It’s straightforward to seek out, as it’s made up of a compact group of vibrant stars within the form of a cross.
Two pointer stars from the neighbouring constellation of Centaurus, the centaur, additionally assist to point out its place. From Sydney and farther south, the Southern Cross is at all times above the horizon. Nevertheless, within the evenings, it’s best considered round June, when it’s excessive within the southern sky.
The constellation Sagittarius is subsequent to Scorpius. Within the evenings, it’s best positioned for statement in August, as at the moment of the yr it’s straight overhead.
A join-the-dots take a look at the brightest stars of the constellation gives the look of a teapot, and it’s usually referred to by that identify. Sagittarius is a vital constellation for Australian astronomers, because it accommodates the centre of the Milky Method galaxy.
This text was initially printed within the Converation. The knowledge on this article comes from the 2025 Australasian Sky Information. The information has month-to-month star maps and has far more info to assist with viewing and having fun with the evening sky from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand
