SkyEye

Welcome to SkyEye, your guide to this year's celestial events!

All dates are in UT. Planetary positions are geocentric apparent places, referred to the true equator and equinox of date.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

January

Observers will have dark skies in which the first major meteor shower of the year, the Quadrantids, will peak early in the month. Mercury is visible in the east at dawn, descending in altitude as it completes the final morning apparition of 2024. It is best seen early in the month from equatorial and southern hemisphere observation points. Venus is the evening star until late March. It reaches its maximum elongation from the Sun on 10 January and is shining at a brilliant magnitude −4.5 for most of the month. It is best seen from the tropics although it is declining in altitude from mid January onwards. It is already descending back towards the Sun as seen from the southern hemisphere but the view from northern temperate latitudes only improves as the bright planet continues to climb higher above the western horizon. Mars is at opposition this month and is visible in the sky all night in the constellations of Cancer and Gemini. The first of four lunar occultations of the red planet takes place just before opposition and the bright planet is closest to Earth on 12 January. Jupiter, shining at magnitude −2.6 in the constellation of Taurus, was at opposition last month and thus is visible for most of the night, setting just ahead of sunrise. Saturn opens 2025 with its rings at their maximum opening tilt for the year. They will close up until they appear edge-on in March. The first-magnitude planet undergoes the first of two lunar occultations this year when the waxing crescent Moon moves in front of Saturn as seen from Earth on the fourth day of the month. Bright Venus comes to call around two weeks later. Saturn is found in the west at sunset in the constellation of Aquarius. Faint Uranus is in retrograde in the constellation of Aries, returning to direct motion just before the end of the month. An evening sky object, it is best viewed from the northern hemisphere where it does not set until after midnight. Neptune is found in the west as the sky grows dark. Located all year in the constellation of Pisces, the blue ice giant is occulted by Moon on the fifth day of the month. Neptune is eighth-magnitude; a telescope is necessary to see it.

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February

The minor meteor shower known as the α-Centaurids is active in the first half of the month but light from the waxing gibbous Moon may provide some interference for observations. Mercury vanishes from the morning sky early in the month, undergoing superior conjunction on 9 February, and reappearing as an evening sky object afterwards. This western appearance, running from 9 February to 24 March, is the best evening apparition of Mercury this year for observers in northern temperate latitudes. Venus, the evening star, is now descending back towards the western horizon. It is at its brightest mid February (magnitude −4.6) and is best viewed from the northern hemisphere. Mars is visible in the evening sky in the constellation of Gemini, not setting until after midnight, and is best seen from the northern hemisphere. On 9 February, it is occulted by the Moon for the second time this year, and near the end of the month the red planet returns to direct motion. Jupiter ends its retrogression early in the month and returns to direct motion across the constellation of Taurus. Shining at magnitude −2.4, the gas giant is best seen from northern latitudes where it does not set until well after midnight. Found in the west after sunset, Saturn is located in the constellation of Aquarius. Its final lunar occultation this year takes place on the first day of the month, along with a close pass by the fourth-magnitude star φ Aquarii. Mercury draws near before the end of the month, a sure sign that conjunction with the Sun is not far off. Uranus reaches east quadrature on 11 February in the constellation of Aries. It sets around midnight for astronomy enthusiasts in the northern hemisphere but disappears by mid evening for those further south. Eighth-magnitude Neptune may be found in the west after darkness falls in the constellation of Pisces. Venus makes a distant pass by the faint planet on the first day of the month but the Moon draws rather closer, occulting Neptune on the same day.

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March

A total lunar eclipse, the first since November 2022, takes place during the Full Moon of 14 March. This is followed by a partial solar eclipse near the end of the month, on 29 March. A major lunar standstill occurs on 22 March, when the Moon reaches its maximum declination (nearly 29°). This results in extremes of azimuths for both moonrise and moonset. An evening sky object, Mercury is occulted by the Moon on the first day of the month when both bodies are 16° away from the Sun. The smallest planet continues to gain altitude above the western horizon until around the time of greatest elongation east, after which it heads back towards the Sun. Mercury is best viewed from northern temperate latitudes during this first evening apparition. After inferior conjunction late in the month, the tiny planet returns to the morning sky in what will be its best dawn appearance of the year for observers in the southern hemisphere. Venus relinquishes its title as evening star this month. It descends back towards the western horizon and undergoes inferior conjunction late in March. It immediately reappears in the east at dawn where it will reign as the morning star for the rest of the year. Mars is a zero-magnitude object traversing the constellation of Gemini. It sets before midnight for planet watchers in the southern hemisphere but for those farther north, does not disappear from view until dawn. On the second day of the month, Jupiter reaches east quadrature in the constellation of Taurus. It is an evening sky object, setting after midnight for those in northern latitudes but vanishing below the western horizon by mid evening for planet watchers in the southern hemisphere. Saturn is at conjunction this month and is too close to the Sun to safely observe. Unfortunately, the geocentric ring-plane crossing on 23 March, when the rings appear edge-on from Earth, will not be visible. Look for the ringed planet next month in the morning sky. Sixth-magnitude Uranus begins March in the constellation of Aries but moves into Taurus early in the month. It is best sought from northern latitudes where it does not set until late evening. Like Saturn, Neptune is at conjunction this month and lost to view. The distant dwarf planet 136472 Makemake comes to opposition at the end of the month in the non-zodiacal constellation of Coma Berenices but at seventeenth magnitude, is out of reach of most telescopes.

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April

Two meteor showers of note take place in the latter half of the month, the April Lyrids and the π-Puppids. The Moon is a waning crescent during peak activity of these showers and should not provide too much light interference. The diameter of the Full Moon is at a minimum this month, with the full phase coinciding with apogee. Mercury vaults high above the eastern horizon before sunrise when viewed from southern and equatorial latitudes but remains very low in the sky for observers further north. This morning sky object begins to lose altitude late in the month, after undergoing greatest elongation west on 21 April. The morning star shines at magnitude −4.4 in the east before sunrise. This dawn apparition of Venus favours those living in the southern hemisphere and near the equator. Mars inhabits the evening sky, setting before midnight for those watching it from the southern hemisphere but lingering into the morning hours when viewed from northern vantage points. It moves from the constellation of Gemini into Cancer mid April. It is dimming throughout the month, beginning at magnitude +0.4 and ending at +0.9, and reaches east quadrature on 21 April. The red planet presents a distinctly gibbous appearance when viewed through a telescope. Continuing its trek across the constellation of Taurus, the giant planet Jupiter is visible in the evening sky. Those in northern latitudes have the best views, with the planet not setting until around midnight. Saturn is a morning sky object, beginning the month in the constellation of Aquarius before moving to Pisces on 19 April. It is most easily observed from the southern hemisphere where astronomers will have a chance to see the unlit side of the planet's rings following last month's geocentric ring plane crossing. Venus makes a distant pass on 7 April and a closer one nearer the end of the month. Now located in Taurus, a constellation it will inhabit for the rest of the year, Uranus is found in the west at sunset. Conjunction beckons next month and the sixth-magnitude planet will be a difficult object to spot even before the end of April. Found in the morning sky in Pisces, Neptune is eighth magnitude and always requires a telescope for observations. Early risers in the southern hemisphere have the best chance of seeing Mercury make a close flyby mid month. At opposition in the constellation of Boötes this month is the seventeenth-magnitude dwarf planet 136108 Haumea.

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May

One of the best showers for southern hemisphere observers is the η-Aquariids which peak early in the month. The waxing gibbous Moon may provide some light interference during the evening. Mercury is visible in the morning sky, descending back towards the horizon, and vanishing just before superior conjunction near the end of the month. This is the best morning apparition of the year for early risers in the southern hemisphere but the planet remains very low for those in northern temperate latitudes. The tiny planet returns to the evening sky next month. Best seen from the southern hemisphere and the tropics, Venus rules the morning sky as it continues to ascend above the eastern horizon. Found in the constellation of Cancer at the beginning of May, Mars enters Leo before the end of the month. It is an evening sky object and is best seen from the northern hemisphere where it does not set until after midnight. The red planet passes through the faint star cluster M44, aka the Beehive Cluster, on 4–6 May. Binoculars and telescopes should show an interesting colour contrast between Mars and the brighter blue stars of the open cluster. Jupiter is found in the evening sky slowly moving through the constellation of Taurus. At magnitude −2.0, it outshines even the many bright stars in that part of the sky. Look for the gas giant in the west after sunset. Saturn reaches an equinox on 6 May when the Sun appears directly over both the planet's equator and the edge of the rings. After this event, the rings, which have presented their unlit side to Earth since the geocentric ring-plane crossing in March, will be fully illuminated by the Sun. Found in the constellation of Pisces, Saturn is a morning sky object, rising after midnight. Faint Uranus is at conjunction this month and lost to view. Located not far from Saturn in the sky, Neptune likewise rises after midnight. Venus is found in the vicinity early in the month but a telescope is always necessary when observing Neptune. A member of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and the third minor planet discovered, 3 Juno reaches opposition on 6 May in the constellation of Serpens. However, it is only tenth magnitude and thus, a challenging object to find.

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June

Untroubled by moonlight, the June Boötid meteor shower takes place at the end of the month. The earlier Daytime Arietids are mostly detectable at radio wavelengths and so are unaffected by light pollution. Mercury is found in the west after sunset. This apparition is a moderately good one for all observers, with those near the equator particularly favoured. The tiny planet is brightest early in June but highest in the sky later in the month. Venus is at greatest elongation west on the first day of the month. Southern hemisphere observers will watch the morning star start to descend back towards the horizon but for everyone else, Venus continues its climb in the east. Mars is an evening sky object located in the constellation of Leo. It sets before midnight for all observers but remains above the horizon longer for planet watchers in the northern hemisphere. It passes close by the first-magnitude star Regulus mid June and is occulted by the Moon on the last day of the month. Jupiter is very low in the west at sunset at the beginning of month, and arrives at conjunction on 24 June when the gas giant actually passes behind the disk of the Sun. It will reappear next month in the east at dawn. Found in the constellation of Pisces, both Saturn and Neptune are primarily morning sky objects although for observers in the southern hemisphere, they rise before midnight by the end of the month. The ringed planet reaches west quadrature on 22 June and Neptune follows the day afterwards. The two superior planets undergo the first leg of a triple conjunction in right ascension on 29 June. Uranus is located in the constellation of Taurus which is currently visible in the morning sky. However, the sixth-magnitude planet will likely be lost in the light of the dawn sky until nearer the end of the month when it distances itself from the Sun.

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July

Several meteor showers reach peak activity in the final week of the month when the Moon is in its waxing crescent phase. The July γ-Draconids have produced outbursts in the past and the α-Capricornids occasionally produce fireballs. The Southern δ-Aquariids is the strongest of these three showers and favours southern vantage points. Visible in the evening sky, Mercury reaches greatest elongation east on 4 July and is on the descent in the west afterwards. Inferior conjunction takes place at the end of the month. Venus is best viewed at dawn from equatorial regions and the southern hemisphere, even though it is on the descent. Observers in northern temperate latitudes are getting better views, however, as the morning star continues to gain altitude throughout the month. Found in the west after sunset, Mars sets before midnight, lingering a bit longer above the horizon for those viewing it from the northern hemisphere. It opens the month in the constellation of Leo but passes into neighbouring Virgo just before it is occulted by the Moon on 28 July. Jupiter appears in the east before sunrise this month and is readily visible by the end of July in the constellation of Gemini. Now rising before midnight in the constellation of Pisces, Saturn begins retrograde motion in the middle of the month. The rings open up to an angle of 3.6° in the first week of July before starting to close up again over the next four months. Uranus, shining at magnitude +5.8 in the constellation of Taurus, is visible in the morning sky. Bright Venus passes 2.4° south of the ice giant early in the month when both planets are 43° away from the Sun. This event is best viewed from the southern hemisphere. Neptune is found not far from Saturn in Pisces and also begins retrograde motion this month. At only eighth magnitude, a telescope is required for observations of the most distant planet in the solar system. At opposition on 25 July, the most famous dwarf planet, 134340 Pluto, shines at magnitude +15 in the constellation of Capricornus.

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August

This is a bad year for the Perseids, with the Moon just past full when the shower peaks. The best morning apparition of Mercury for early risers in northern temperate latitudes begins this month and lasts until mid September. It continues to climb above the eastern horizon until around the time of greatest elongation west, after which it heads back towards the Sun. The tiny planet brightens throughout the month as it closes in on superior conjunction next month. The morning star is descending towards the eastern horizon for all observers this month and is best seen from the northern hemisphere. Venus and Jupiter are less than a degree apart on 12 August in the constellation of Gemini. Although Venus is by far the smaller planet, it is much closer and so it is much brighter (magnitude −4.0 versus Jupiter's −2.0). Now just second magnitude, Mars is getting increasingly difficult to spot in the west as it traverses the sprawling constellation of Virgo. It passes less than a degree south of two fourth-magnitude named stars this month, Zavijava on 2 August and Zaniah on 15 August. Located in the constellation of Pisces, first-magnitude Saturn and eighth-magnitude Neptune undergo the second leg of their triple conjunction in right ascension on 6 August. The two planets rise in early to mid evening. Uranus reaches west quadrature on 24 August in the constellation of Taurus. It rises around midnight. The minor planet 2 Pallas, shining at tenth magnitude, reaches opposition in the constellation of Delphinus on 7 August.

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September

The Aurigid meteor shower, with maximum activity predicted to occur on the first of the month, benefits from mostly dark skies. However, the September ε-Perseids will be washed out from the light of the waning gibbous Moon barely a week later. The Daytime Sextanids are a radio shower and are unaffected by moonlight. The Moon is busy with two more eclipses taking place this month, beginning with a total lunar eclipse on 7 September and followed by a partial solar eclipse two weeks later. Mercury opens the month in the east before sunrise, getting lower and brighter every day until superior conjunction mid month. The following evening apparition is the best one of the year for observers in the southern hemisphere, whilst those in northern temperate latitudes will struggle to see the elusive planet at all as it will barely clear the western horizon. The morning star is best viewed from the northern hemisphere this month. Venus is descending back towards the eastern horizon for all early risers. On 19 September, the inferior planet undergoes a lunar occultation and later passes just 0.4° north of the first-magnitude star Regulus. The red planet Mars shines at magnitude +1.6 in the constellation of Virgo. It is low in the west as skies darken and sets early in the evening. Jupiter is a morning sky object, rising around midnight, and best seen from the northern hemisphere in the constellation of Gemini. It passes just north of the fourth-magnitude star Wasat on 6 September and is found in the vicinity of the planetary nebula C39 two weeks later. At magnitude −2.0, it easily outshines even the first-magnitude stars of Gemini. Located near one another in the constellation of Pisces, both Saturn and Neptune come to opposition this month and are visible (with a telescope in Neptune's case) all night. However, Saturn returns to the constellation of Aquarius just before the end of September. Located in the constellation of Taurus, sixth-magnitude Uranus reverses course on 6 September, entering into retrograde motion. It now rises before midnight for all observers.

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October

Two minor showers, the October Camelopardalids and the Draconids, are badly affected by moonlight this year. However, the peak of the Orionid meteor shower coincides with the New Moon, leading to ideal observing conditions. Mercury puts on its best evening show of the year for southern hemisphere observers this month, soaring above the western horizon throughout October. However, the tiny planet barely gets above the horizon for those seeking it from northern temperate latitudes. Perhaps by way of compensation, Venus, the morning star, is best seen from northern latitudes although it is getting closer to the eastern horizon every day. It is shining at its minimum magnitude, −3.9, all month. Mars departs the constellation Virgo early in the month, entering Libra and passing close by the brightest star in that constellation, third-magnitude Zubenelgenubi, on 14 October. The red planet is only magnitude +1.6 and is very low in the west after sunset so this fly by may not be easily observable. Mercury and Mars are 2° apart a week later and are best seen from the southern latitudes. On 17 October, Jupiter reaches west quadrature in the constellation of Gemini. It rises in late evening. Saturn is in retrograde, retracing its path through the constellation of Aquarius. The ringed planet is magnitude +0.7 and is visible for most of the night, not setting until the morning hours. Uranus is retrograding through the constellation of Taurus this month. It rises early in the evening but requires a dark sky to view it as it is only sixth magnitude. Neptune, shining feebly at magnitude +7.8, is visible (through a telescope) for most of the night in the constellation of Pisces. 1 Ceres is the largest of the asteroids in the main belt between Mars and Jupiter, and so far, the only dwarf planet located within the orbit of Neptune. It reaches opposition on the second day of the month and may be found in the constellation of Cetus. At eighth magnitude, a telescope will be required to see it. Later in the month, another dwarf planet, 136199 Eris, also comes to opposition in Cetus but this trans-Neptunian object is only nineteenth magnitude at its brightest.

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November

The peak of the Southern Taurid meteor shower is wiped out by the Full Moon and observations of the northern branch of this shower is somewhat affected by moonlight one week later. The Leonids and α-Monocerotids, however, bracket the New Moon, and benefit from dark skies. This month's Full Moon coincides with the nearest perigee of the year, leading to the largest apparent diameter of the lunar disk as seen from Earth. The most distant apogee of the year also takes place this month, on the same day as the New Moon. Mercury completes its final evening apparition of the year, descending in the west and eventually meeting with the Sun on 20 November. It reappears in the morning sky soon afterwards in an apparition which favours the northern hemisphere. The morning star is getting low in the dawn sky for all observers but is still best seen from northern latitudes. Even at its minimum magnitude of −3.9, Venus is still the brightest planet in the heavens. Mars enters the constellation of Scorpius on 3 November, leaving it for the non-zodiacal constellation of Ophiuchus on 15 November. Now less than 20° away from the Sun, the red planet is very low in the west at sunset and sets before darkness falls completely. The close approach of Mercury and the fly past of the globular cluster M80 in the middle of the month are probably unobservable but are best attempted from the southern hemisphere. Now rising mid evening in the constellation of Gemini, Jupiter reaches a stationary point on 11 November and enters into retrograde motion. Saturn is located in the constellation of Aquarius this month. It rises before sunset and is visible until after midnight. The rings have been closing up since July and reach a minimum tilt of just 0.4° on 24 November, nearly edge-on. The ringed planet returns to direct motion before the end of the month. Uranus attains opposition on 21 November when it is shining at magnitude +5.6 in the constellation of Taurus. It is visible all night. Continuing its retrograde motion through the constellation of Pisces, the eigth-magnitude planet Neptune is already above the horizon by the time night falls, setting after midnight for all observers.

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December

The first three meteor showers of the month — Phoenicids, Puppid-Velids, and σ-Hydrids — are affected by moonlit skies. However, the waning crescent Moon offers no hindrance to observing the best shower of the year, the Geminids, which peak mid-month. The final shower of 2025, the Ursids, peak shortly after New Moon, which offers ideal observing conditions. Mercury is visible in the morning sky, climbing above the eastern horizon before sunrise until greatest elongation west and then starting a slow descent. It is best seen from the northern hemisphere and equatorial regions. Venus is now very low in the east at dawn and is probably lost to view for most. Superior conjunction takes place early in the new year. An evening sky object, Mars is largely lost to view in the west as it is less than 10° away from the Sun this month. It leaves the constellation of Ophiuchus for Sagittarius on 10 December and within a week passes by the famous nebulae M20 (Trifid Nebula) and M8 (Lagoon Nebula) but these events are unlikely to be visible due to the proximity of the Sun. Close approaches to other Messier objects later in December are similarly affected by unfavourable observing conditions. The red planet will be a conjunction early next year. As it approaches opposition next month, Jupiter rises ever earlier in the evening. At magnitude −2.6, it outshines all other starlike objects in the constellation of Gemini. Retrograde motion takes it past C39 for the second time this year but a telescope will be necessary to see this famous planetary nebula. First-magnitude Saturn is moving slowly through the constellation of Aquarius. It reaches east quadrature mid month and sets around midnight for favoured northern hemisphere observers. Those living in southern latitudes lose the ringed planet earlier in the evening. Uranus continues its retrogression through the constellation of Taurus, passing just 0.1° south of the sixth-magnitude star 14 Tauri on 13 December and a more distant 0.2° south of the slightly brighter star 13 Tauri on 22 December. The faint ice giant is visible for most of the night, not setting until midnight or later, and is best viewed from the northern hemisphere. Neptune returns to direct motion across the constellation of Pisces in the first half of the month, with east quadrature taking place on 21 December. An evening sky object, the faint planet sets around midnight for those in northern temperate latitudes but rather earlier for observers in the southern hemisphere.

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