Which celestial spectacle from 2025 left the deepest impression on you? Was it a comet bright enough to see without a telescope, Mars being obscured by the moon, or perhaps witnessing a total lunar eclipse and the aurora borealis?
Let's revisit the key astronomical events of 2025 through a descriptive summary.
Mars Occulted by the Wolf Moon
Mars reaches a brilliant opposition in Earth's sky approximately every 26 months. On January 15, just before this event, it captured attention by passing behind the moon. Observers in North America witnessed the full Wolf Moon occult the Red Planet, a rare alignment that occurs about once every 14 years from a given location.
Comet 2024 G3 (ATLAS) Becomes a Southern Delight
Often called the "great comet" of 2025, Comet 2024 G3 (ATLAS) made a close approach to the sun in mid- to late January. It developed a bright, detailed tail that thrilled astrophotographers in the Southern Hemisphere, even becoming visible to the naked eye during daylight hours.
Blue Ghost Lunar Landing Achieved
In early March, Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost spacecraft successfully soft-landed in the Mare Crisium basin on the moon. Launched in January on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, this mission marked the second time a private spacecraft achieved a gentle touchdown on the lunar surface. The company released a stunning video of the descent.
Star Trails Photographed from the Space Station
From September 2024 to April 2025, NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his orbital astrophotography, collaborated with ground-based astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi. Together, they captured numerous mesmerizing star trail images from the International Space Station, elevating the art form.
Total Lunar Eclipse Graces the Sky
On March 13-14, 2025, the first total lunar eclipse in three years occurred. The full Worm Moon passed through Earth's shadow for 65 minutes, appearing reddish-orange from Earth. Visible from the nightside of our planet, it was photographed with a moonbow in Kentucky and against the Milky Way in Chile. Another eclipse on September 7-8 also produced remarkable images.
Vapor Tracers Illuminate Aurora Research
During an aurora substorm, NASA launched two sounding rockets from Alaska's Poker Flat Research Range. These rockets released colorful vapor tracers into the northern lights as part of the AWESOME mission, helping scientists study winds, particle flows, and magnetic changes.
Perseid Meteor Shower Persists Despite Moonlight
The 2025 Perseid meteor shower faced interference from an 84%-illuminated crescent moon. However, a brief dark window before the peak on August 12-13 allowed some bright meteors to be seen. NASA photographer Bill Ingalls captured a long-exposure image of a Perseid meteor in West Virginia about ten days prior.
Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS Observed
2025 was notable for comet discoveries, including the third known interstellar object to enter our solar system, named Comet 3I/ATLAS. Following 'Oumuamua in 2017 and 2I/Borisov in 2019, astronomers using the Gemini South telescope in Chile detected its tail in late August.
Solar Maximum Fuels Auroral Displays
Building on 2024's activity, 2025 experienced significant geomagnetic storms due to the solar maximum phase of the 11-year solar cycle. Observers on dates like April 14-15, June 1, June 17, and September 2 enjoyed spectacular auroras at low latitudes during G4 geomagnetic storms.
Comet Lemmon and Orionid Meteor Shower Coincide
In mid- to late October, Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) neared naked-eye visibility, coinciding with the peak of the Orionid meteor shower. Although primarily captured by astrophotographers in the Northern Hemisphere, it offered a notable display. A surprise comet, C/2025 R2 (SWAN), appeared in September but did not reach the same brightness.
