Last year treated Australia to heaps of jaw-dropping cosmic phenomena, and 2025 promises to be just as magnificent! The skies have meteor showers, supermoons, and maybe even the aurora — if we’re lucky — in store for us. Here are some of the most promising astronomical events happening this year.
Saturn
Get your ring-gazing in before March because between the 23rd to the 28th, as the planet orbits into an edge-on position, Saturn’s rings will become invisible to us. This happens every 13 to 15 years and, although they will reappear later in the year, they’ll be gone once again in November.
Keep in mind that you will need a telescope to catch them!
Meteor showers
This year, Aussies will be treated to two major meteor showers!
The first one will be the Eta Aquariid shower, which will be visible between May 5 and 6 as the Earth moves through the dust and gas left by Halley’s Comet, and is one of the best meteor showers to see from the Southern Hemisphere.
But don’t worry, you’ll have plenty to look forward to even up to the end of the year, as the Geminid meteor shower will light up the sky between December 13 and December 14. This year, they will even easier to spot as they won’t coincide with a supermoon like they did last year.
Aurora
We’re keeping our fingers crossed because there is a chance we could see another aurora australis in 2025 thanks to the Sun is in a phase called solar maximum, which means solar activity is at its highest, making it more likely that an aurora may occur.
This phase is expected to peak in July, so keep your eyes on the skies during winter!
Supermoons
Supermoons occur when the full moon or new moon happens during the Moon’s closest approach to Earth. This year’s will fall on September 7 (Harvest Moon), October 8 (Hunter’s Moon), November 4 (Diva Moon).
Total lunar eclipse
Before dawn on September 8, a total lunar eclipse will be visible across Australia, and you won’t want to miss it because it’ll be a blood moon! Not only that, but if you don’t catch it you’ll have to wait until March 2026, so mark your calendar!