January 2025 Stargazing Calendar: 10 Must-See Astronomical Events in the UK & Worldwide

Stargazing is a great way to start a new year for anyone who enjoys exploring the wonders of the universe. December was rich in spectacular astronomical events, but will the cosmos welcome the new year with another marvellous celestial show? We’ve put together some of January’s most exciting celestial highlights for you to enjoy.

Stargazing in January

January’s long, dark nights offer fantastic opportunities to explore the night sky with a pair of binoculars, a telescope or even without any special equipment. Just don’t forget to get yourself warm, as the first month of the year brings chilly temperatures, occasional cloudy skies, and rainy days.

In January you’ll have the chance to observe a beautiful full Moon, Mars that will shine exceptionally brightly, and catch not one but two meteor showers. Let’s take a closer look at the celestial wonders January has to offer, so you’re ready to make the most of them.

3-4 January: Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Best time: after sunset

The Quadrantid meteor shower will be active from 12 December to 12 January, peaking on 3 January. The shower’s radiant point is in the constellation Bootes, but meteors can appear anywhere in the sky. The Quadrantids are known for their bright fireballs, making them a highlight of the winter night sky.

At its peak, the Quandids is expected to produce a nominal rate of around 120 meteors per hour. However, this zenithal hourly rate is calculated assuming perfect conditions: a dark sky and that the radiant of the shower is situated directly overhead. In practice, the number of meteors you are likely to see is thus lower than this – from 80 to 117 meteors per hour.

The shower is expected to reach peak activity at around 16:00 GMT on 3 January 2025, so it’s better to be ready for stargazing after dusk on 3 January. You don’t need any special equipment to view a meteor shower. All you need is a clear sky, warm clothes, a cup of something warm, and lots of patience.

4 January: Earth at Perihelion

Best time: 13:28 GMT

On 4 January, our planet will reach its closest point to the Sun – at a distance of 0.9833 AU (around 147,1 million km). The Earth’s distance from the Sun varies by around 3% over the course of the year because its orbit is slightly oval-shaped – elliptical.

Technically speaking, perihelion marks the moment when the Sun appears larger in the sky than at any other time of year, and when the Earth receives the most radiation from it. In practice, however, a 3% difference in the Earth’s distance from the Sun is barely noticeable.

10 January: Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation

Best time: sunset

Venus will reach its greatest separation from the Sun in its 2024–2025 evening apparition. It will be shining brightly at mag -4.4.

At this time, the planet Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This marks the ideal opportunity to observe Venus, as it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Be sure to look out for the dazzling bright spot gracing the western sky shortly after sunset.

13 January: Full Moon

Best time: 22:26 GMT 

The first full Moon of the year is known as the Wolf Moon, because this was the time of year when hungry wolves howled looking for food. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, it is also often referred to as the Moon After Yule.

On this day, the Moon will shine brightly and remain visible for much of the night, rising at approximately 14:13 GMT and setting at around 08:11 GMT. So, wrap up warm, make yourself comfortable, and take the opportunity to marvel at the beautiful Moon gracing the night sky.

Related OT article: Enchanted By The Moon: Why Does The Moon Shine?

13 January: Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) passes perigee and perihelion

Comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS) will make its closest approach to the Earth on 13 January, at a distance of 0.94 AU. Unfortunately, on the day of perigee the comet will not be observable since it will be very close to the Sun, at a distance of 0.09 AU and at a separation of only 4° from it.

Please remember not to attempt to point a pair of binoculars or a telescope at this comet on its perihelion. As it may result in immediate and permanent blindness due to closeness to the Sun.

While observing the Wolf Moon, you will just know that comet C/2024 G3 (ATLAS), which might become the brightest comet of 2025, passes close to our planet and to the Sun.

14 January: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars

Best time: 17:04 GMT

On this day, the Moon and Mars will come into close proximity, a phenomenon known as an appulse.

The pair will be visible in the morning sky, becoming observable from around 17:04, when they reach an altitude of 7°above the north-eastern horizon. They will climb to their highest point in the sky at 00:23, reaching 63° above the southern horizon, before fading with the dawn at around 07:34, positioned 9° above the north-western horizon.

The Moon will shine at magnitude -12.7, and Mars at magnitude -1.4, both in the constellation Gemini. This celestial duo will be visible to the naked eye, but for a clearer and more detailed view, a pair of binoculars or a telescope would greatly enhance the experience.

19 January: γ-Ursae Minorid meteor shower

Best time: 05:00 GMT

The second meteor shower of January 2025, the γ-Ursae Minorid, will occur from 15th to 25th January, reaching its peak activity around the 19th.

During this period, there will be opportunities to spot γ-Ursae Minorid meteors whenever the shower’s radiant point, located in the constellation Ursa Minor, is above the horizon. The higher the radiant point rises in the sky, the greater the number of meteors you are likely to observe.

At its peak, the shower is expected to produce a nominal rate of approximately three meteors per hour. However, in practice, the actual rate is likely to be closer to two meteors per hour.

29 January: New Moon

At New Moon, the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are in alignment. So, the Moon is not visible in the sky. During the New Moon phase, the Earth, Moon, and Sun align, with the Moon positioned in the middle. As a result, the side of the Moon that faces Earth remains unilluminated and we cannot see it from our planet.

Another reason we cannot see the New Moon is that it is up in the daytime sky. It rises and sets at nearly the same time as the Sun, placing it too close to the Sun’s glare to be visible to the naked eye. However, there is one exceptional occasion when the New Moon becomes visible: during a solar eclipse. 

Moonless skies provide an excellent opportunity to observe faint objects, such as galaxies and star clusters, as there is no moonlight to cause interference.

January 2025 presents a splendid opportunity for stargazing enthusiasts across our planet, with several astronomical events to look forward to. However, keep in mind that January nights are cold, so wear appropriate clothing to stay warm during your stargazing sessions.