It was a spectacular year of celestial events for Southern Californians, including April's solar eclipse and a rare Draconid meteor shower in October.
Next year will be another one of dazzling sky shows and will offer opportunities to forge deeper connections with astronomy, said Vanessa Alarcón, an astronomical observer at Griffith Observatory.
Alarcón told The Times on Monday that throughout human history, people have necessarily been connected to the sky and the stars because that is how they could tell time, when to plant things and understand seasonal changes.
They are our roots.
“We are inherently connected to the stars because we are part of them,” Alarcón said. Each of the upcoming events “is an opportunity to launch into the world of astronomy.”
Before we dive into the upcoming attractions, here are some expert tips for stargazers.
Stay away from light pollution. NASA experts say that the darker the sky, the greater the chances of seeing stars and celestial events. You may have to travel to make this happen, and if you need help choosing destinations, you can consult your local astronomy club. Griffith Observatory has an online list of Southern California astronomy clubs.
Find viewing parties near you. You can also contact clubs and observatories to see if they are viewing a celestial event open to the public; most of these visits are free. The Los Angeles Astronomical Society is hosting a star party equipped with professional telescopes on the grass area in front of the main entrance to Griffith Observatory on January 4, for example. The observatory also has virtual viewing parties on its YouTube account, including one on March 13 for the total lunar eclipse, an event that will last until 1 a.m., Alarcón said.
Check the weather, as it can affect your vision. Preparation for any cosmic event should include checking the forecast. Many of these events come with the caveat: “weather permitting.” That means, for example, that a cloudy or foggy night will likely decrease your chances of seeing a meteor shower.
Know where to look with your own eyes. Not everyone has money to buy telescopes or other equipment. But some events are visible to the naked eye. If you need help locating a specific planet, experts point to mobile apps like SkySafari 7 and Night Sky, which allow users to find celestial objects simply by pointing their phones at the sky.
Find your binoculars. For improved eyesight, experts recommend that you grab a pair of binoculars with specifications ranging from 7×35 to 10×50 that will allow you to have a clearer view of things, including the moon.
Events next year that will be visible to Californians include planets appearing closer together, a total lunar eclipse, a small planet that is not normally visible making itself known, the rings of another planet disappearing and a meteor shower.
January: Mars disappearing act
On January 13 at 5:30 p.m., the moon will orbit in front of Mars, and Mars will disappear for a moment, reappearing on the other side of the moon. This is known as concealment.
This event is a good special event for Southern California, Alarcón said. It can only be seen from the west coast.
The event can be viewed with binoculars and you will see the glow of Mars before it disappears for about an hour.
January: Venus and Saturn approach
Venus and Saturn are hundreds of millions of kilometers apart depending on their positions in orbit, but on January 18, the planets will appear “less than half a degree apart in the sky,” according to National Geographic.
This happens because as Venus moves away from the sun, Saturn moves closer to it and the apparent gap between the two planets is closing, as High Point Scientific explains.
You can see the close encounter of the planets by looking up into the sky (in a southwest direction) about 30 to 45 minutes after sunset.
Experts say you'll be able to spot the planets with the naked eye on a relatively clear night. Venus will shine brightly while Saturn will be a little dimmer. If you choose to use a telescope, you will be able to see Saturn's rings.
March: total lunar eclipse
The most recent total lunar eclipse visible to Southern Californians occurred in 2022. This spectacular event occurs as the moon moves into Earth's shadow and turns blood red near totality.
The color is due to Earth's atmosphere acting as a lens and preferentially directing red and orange light toward the lunar surface, according to the Griffith Observatory.
In 2025, the eclipse will occur on March 14. Weather permitting, you'll be able to view it in its entirety starting at 8:57 pm Pacific Time.
March: Watch Saturn's rings disappear
Break out your telescope equipment to see Saturn's magic trick: its disappearing rings.
Our view of the planet and its rings changes as it moves through its orbit. This is because the orbits of Earth and Saturn are tilted relative to each other, so when the rings appear to disappear, it is because we see them edge-on, according to NASA.
On March 23, Saturn's tilt aligns with Earth's, making the thin rings appear almost invisible. This will be the narrowest ring you'll see in 2025, and without equipment you probably won't be able to see it.
June: Mercury takes a bow
Mercury is difficult to detect from Earth due to its proximity to the sun. As NASA explains, the planet is only visible at sunrise or sunset, when the sun's brightness does not eclipse it.
That will change on June 26, when the smallest planet in our solar system will be about 15 degrees above the horizon about 15 to 20 minutes after sunset, according to High Point Scientific.
This is the best chance you will have in 2025 to see, using a telescope, both Mercury and the Moon together in the night sky, experts say.
August: Venus and Jupiter approach
Scientific experts consider this rare August event a can't-miss opportunity to see the two brightest planets very close to each other. On August 12, you can see Venus and Jupiter in close conjunction before dawn in the eastern part of the sky.
Venus will eclipse Jupiter in a brilliant white glow, according to High Point Scientific. Jupiter, by comparison, will be dimmer and have a golden glow.
By looking through a telescope, you'll be able to see Jupiter's banded atmosphere and four Galilean moons, which may appear as small dots lined up around the planet, says National Geographic.
September: Waning Crescent Moon, Venus and Regulus
Those on the East Coast who look up and east on September 19 about 45 minutes before sunrise will see a crescent moon, Venus, and the bright star Regulus lined up.
For Southern Californians, also 45 minutes before sunrise that day, the crescent moon and Regulus will be to the left or bottom left of Venus in a possible triangle shape.
The trio will shine brightly, but Venus will eclipse the other two and Regulus will emanate a bluish-white hue.
Experts say the event will be visible to the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope are recommended to improve viewing.
December: Geminid meteor shower
If you missed the Geminid meteor shower over the weekend, you'll have a chance to see it next year.
The debris that causes the Geminids, an annual event, originated from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon, according to NASA.
About 10 days before the Geminids are expected to peak, there will be a full moon. But by December 13 and 14, the moon will be in a waxing phase and its brightness will not dominate the skies. More importantly, it won't interfere with meteor shower observation, says High Point Scientific.
On December 13, two hours after sunset, you can look at the sky (in a direction away from the moon) and look for shooting stars. The show is expected to continue into the early hours of the next day.
The Geminid meteor shower can produce up to 50 meteors per hour during the peak dates of December 13 and 14 in a typical year.
