Happy New Year from all at The Aurora Zone, we’re extremely excited for what’s in store for all things 2025 astronomy and for our aurora chasers as they head up to our winter destinations in the Arctic Circle.

2025 astronomy promises to be an exciting year for those who are making that trip up north to chase the aurora and maybe see it for the very first time. The aurora has already been visible from lower European latitudes in the first few days of the year and as we head closer to spring, the chances or more displays are high because the Sun is in the most active part of its 11-year cycle. So, if there was ever a time to book that trip to see the aurora borealis, this is the year.

Let’s start our astronomy highlights and take a look how the 2025 astronomy highlights begins…

Quadrantid Meteor Shower | January 3-4

Start the year with the Quadrantids, a meteor shower peaking at around 25 meteors per hour. Named after the obsolete constellation Quadrans Muralis, its radiant lies near Boötes and Draco, close to the Big Dipper’s handle. Unlike most meteor showers, the Quadrantids originate from an asteroid, producing bright, fast streaks. Bundle up and enjoy this brief but dazzling celestial display in the northern sky!

Shooting Star – V2osk

Moon Occults Saturn | January 4

On January 4th, skywatchers in the UK will witness a lunar occultation of Saturn, where Saturn appears to vanish behind the Moon, which will be near its first-quarter phase.

At around 5:15 PM, you’ll see Saturn seemingly touch the Moon’s northwest edge before disappearing behind its shadowed side. Then, at 6:30 PM, Saturn will reemerge from the southeast of the lunar disk—a breathtaking sight!

This will only be visible through a telescope but it will be an unforgettable experience if the weather is on your side.

Saturn Moon – Stellarium

Full Wolf Moon | January 13

The Full Wolf Moon will occur on January 14th, 2025. This Full Moon is named after wolves, which were often heard howling during the winter months. It will rise just after sunset and remain visible throughout the night, providing bright conditions for observing the lunar surface. As the first Full Moon of the year, it holds significance in many traditional calendars and marks an important point in the lunar cycle.

Full Wolf Moon – Paul Simpson

A Planetary Feast | January 21

Around 9pm this evening you will be able to observe at least four planets with your naked eye, five with a telescope. Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn will appear as bright points in the night sky. Uranus is also up there but would require very dark skies and/or a telescope.

A great way to pick them out is to notice how little they twinkle compared to the stars around them. Planets don’t twinkle because they appear as small disks, not point sources like stars. Twinkling occurs when atmospheric turbulence distorts light from distant stars. Since planets are closer, their larger apparent size averages out these distortions, allowing them to shine with a steady, non-twinkling light in the night sky.

8 Planets – Jerry Lodriguss

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Image Credits: Aleksi Mehtone