Top Space Events & Conferences in January 2025: UK and Global

As the new year takes off, so does the space industry, with January 2025 packed full of events that are out of this world. Across the UK and the globe, space enthusiasts, innovators, and industry leaders are gearing up for events that promise to ignite the future of exploration. Let’s dive into what the first month of the year has in store!

United Kingdom

Happy New Year Stargaze!

When? 4 January

Where? Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Sutton Bank Thirsk YO7 2EH United Kingdom

A fabulous date just after New Year to celebrate a sky full of wonder – Jupiter and Mars are looking dazzling and the moon will be low in the west, eventually setting to cast the night sky at its darkest of the year. Plus you’ll search for other galaxies and take a magical tour of the great winter constellations of Orion and Taurus. The powerful telescopes and binoculars will be on hand to share the views.

Moon & Mars in Gemini Telescope session

When? 12 January

Where? Tomintoul & Glenlivet Discovery Centre, The Square Tomintoul AB37 9ET United Kingdom

It’s an evening telescope taster session where you’ll be looking at the Moon and Mars in the constellation of Gemini and aprominent winter stars and constellations. The Glenlivet and Tomintoul area is one of the best places in the Cairngorms National Park to discover the wonders of the night sky. It is Scotland’s second International Dark Sky Park and one of the most northerly in the world. 

Moonlight over Mugdock

When? 13 January

Where? Mugdock Country Park, Mugdock visitor centre Glasgow G62 8EL United Kingdom

 Learn about the stars of our beautiful night sky and how best to see the aurora. See stars, galaxies, planets, meteors, satellites and more with your own eyes and through the Astronomical Society of Glasgow’s telescopes. If it’s cloudy you will hear all about these wonders from our team of seasoned and friendly astronomers who will be on hand with tips on how to get the most out of your own eyes, binoculars and telescopes. No experience is necessary. 

Instant Expert: Inside the subatomic universe

When? 18 January

Where? Congress Centre, 28 Great Russell Street London WC1B 3LS United Kingdom

In the early 20th Century, physicists like Rutherford, Bohr and Schrödinger devised our current model of the atom – with protons and neutrons in the nucleus and a cloud of electrons. But that was only the start of the story.

Ever since, scientists have devised theories and carried out experiments with gigantic, atom-smashing particle accelerators to probe deeper into what these particles are made of. Some believe our best theory, the Standard Model, is not quite complete.

Particle accelerators, such as those deep underground at huge facilities like Fermilab and CERN, have also given us evidence to answer other questions, such as what gives objects mass. They’ve also allowed us to explore mysterious particles like quarks and neutrinos. Join six leading experts to find out everything we know about what stuff is made of.

The Science of The Multiverse: Do Parallel Universes Exist?

When? 20 January

Where? Cambridge Junction, Clifton Way Cambridge CB1 7GX United Kingdom

Multiple universes and parallel worlds are all the rage in film and TV these days from the Marvel cinematic universe to Stranger Things. But multiverses are more than just fiction, many scientists are increasingly convinced that our universe is just one of a vast number of hidden worlds. 

Multiverses crop up all over the place in physics. The modern Big Bang theory suggests that our Universe was just one of an effectively infinite number that are continuously being birthed. Some quantum physicists even argue that every time a choice is made, the universe branches into two parallel worlds. Multiverses have also been invoked to explain why our Universe seems peculiarly well set up for life to exist.

However, the idea of the multiverse is also hugely controversial, striking at the heart of what it means to do science. In this talk, particle physicist Dr Harry Cliff takes us on a tour of the multiverse, exploring why it’s being taken seriously by many scientists and asking whether we’ll ever be able to access these other worlds.

Watchers of the Skies

When? 21 January

Where? Dalhousie Building, University of Dundee 2F10Old Hawkhill Dundee DD1 5EN United Kingdom

From stone circles and early cultures to the giant telescopes of the nineteenth and twentieth century, this course tells the stories of the dedicated skywatchers who unravelled the mysteries of the heavens and the pioneering men and women who helped us understand our true place in the Universe.

Astronomy for All 2025: Talks at the Royal Observatory Edinburgh

When? 21, 28 January

Where? Royal Observatory Edinburgh, Blackford Hill Edinburgh EH9 3HJ United Kingdom

Have you ever wondered what is out there in the night sky? Or how you could build a machine to explore behind the stars? Inviting scientists and engineers will share with you what they do, and how it fits into the wider world of astronomy.

These talks are for people with a curiosity about the Universe, and you don’t need to know much (or anything) about the topic before you arrive. They should be suitable for you if you’re between 12 and 200 years old and you want to find out more about the science and technology of space.

Comets in Art and Science

When? 27 January

Where? Birmingham & Midland Institute, 9 Margaret Street Birmingham B3 3BU United Kingdom

BMI Scientist in Residence Dr James Dawson looks at the representation of comets in art, backed up with a sprinkling of science.

Dr James Dawson obtained his BSc (Hons) in biochemistry from the University of Sussex. He subsequently undertook research at University College London into cancer cell growth, studied medicine at the University of Leicester and has worked throughout the East and West Midlands, and has been a consultant anaesthetist in Nottingham for the last 12 years. He is Librarian for the Society for the History of Astronomy, based at The Birmingham and Midland Institute, and has published articles in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association and other astronomy publications. James is currently renovating the Nottingham Astronomical Society’s observatory and spends a lot of time tinkering with amateur electronics, and more recently with amateur spectrophotometry.

WORLDWIDE

AIAA SciTech Forum

When? 6-10 January

Where? Hyatt Regency Orlando, Florida, USA

It’s the world’s largest event for aerospace research, development, and technology, showcasing breakthrough science, revolutionary technologies, and generation-after-next capabilities.

The 2025 forum theme, “Energize the Future,” reflects the current shift in the aerospace industry: envisioning and enabling new means of transportation and exploration that will revolutionize our society, achieving sustainability goals, developing and applying new and improved software and hardware tools, and promoting inclusivity. It also champions the legacy of our community: tackling hard challenges and pushing boundaries to achieve the art of the (im)possible.

Commercial Space Week

When? 27-30 January

Where? Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, USA

This special co-location of 3 events brings together leaders from the defense, commercial, and spaceport communities, providing in-depth exploration of the challenges & opportunities both shared by, and unique to, each sector. 

Participants will have unparalleled opportunities to collaborate, network, and forge strategic partnerships on the show floor and during networking events.

European Space Conference

When? 28-29 January

Where? Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida, USA

In 2025, the European space sector is set to experience significant developments as Europe commits to expand its space capabilities, cultivate a dynamic space ecosystem, and establish a strong presence in the global space arena amid an evolving international context.

Building on the successes of the previous editions, this year’s European Space Conference will explore the current status of Europe’s space endeavours  through a series of high-level  dialogues and serve as a platform for in-depth, engaging, and forward-thinking discussions about the future direction of European space initiatives.

Participate in the dialogue, collaborate with policymakers, visionary leaders, and key industry figures, and influence the trajectory of the European space sector. Don’t miss the 17th European Space Conference.