This year has been full of amazing celestial events for Southern Californians, including a solar eclipse in April and the rare Draconid meteor shower in October.
Griffith Observatory astronomer Vanessa Alarcón said next year will bring another great sky show and provide an opportunity to make deeper connections with astronomy.
Alarcón told the Times on Monday that throughout human history, people have been inevitably connected to the sky and the stars, allowing them to tell the time, when to plant and understand the changing seasons. “Taka,” he said.
It’s our roots.
“We are inherently connected to the stars because we are part of them,” Alarcón said. Each upcoming event is “an opportunity to dive into the world of astronomy.”
Before we get into the upcoming attractions, here are some expert tips for stargazers.
Keep away from light pollution. NASA experts say the darker the sky, the more likely it is that stars and celestial events will be visible. This may require travel. If you need help choosing a destination, talk to your local astronomy club. Griffith Observatory has an online list of astronomical clubs in Southern California.
Find a viewing party near you. You can also check with clubs and observatories to see if they offer astronomical observations that are open to the public. Most of these observations are free. The Los Angeles Astronomical Society, for example, will host a star party on Jan. 4 on the lawn area in front of the front entrance of Griffith Observatory, complete with professional telescopes. Alarcón said the observatory is also hosting virtual viewing parties on its YouTube account, including one on March 13 for the total lunar eclipse, which will last until 1 a.m. .
Check the weather as visibility may be impaired. To prepare for cosmic events, you need to check the forecast. Many of these events come with a caveat: “Weather permitting.” So, for example, cloudy or foggy nights may reduce your chances of seeing a meteor shower.
Know where to look with your own eyes. Not everyone has money to buy telescopes and other equipment. However, some events can be seen with the naked eye. If you need help finding a specific planet, experts point you to mobile apps like SkySafari 7 and Night Sky. These apps allow users to find celestial objects by simply pointing their phone at the sky.
Find binoculars. For a better view, experts recommend buying binoculars with specifications from 7×35 to 10×50, which allow you to see things more clearly, including the moon.
Events Californians will be able to see next year include a planet appearing in close proximity, a total lunar eclipse, a small normally invisible planet making its presence known, another planet’s disappearing ring, a meteor shower, and more. It will be done.
January: Disappearance of Mars
At 5:30 p.m. on January 13, the Moon will orbit in front of Mars, which will briefly disappear and reappear on the opposite side of the Moon. It is known as the occult.
Alarcón said the event is a good special event for Southern California. It can only be seen from the west coast.
This event can be viewed with binoculars and will be visible for about an hour before Mars’ brightness fades.
January: Venus and Saturn approach each other
Venus and Saturn are separated by hundreds of millions of miles depending on their orbital positions, but on January 18th the planets will appear to be “less than half a degree apart in the sky,” according to National Geographic.
Highpoint Scientific explains that this is because as Venus moves away from the Sun, Saturn moves towards the Sun, narrowing the apparent gap between the two planets.
If you look up at the sky (southwest direction) about 30 to 45 minutes after sunset, you can see the planet approaching.
Experts say the planet can be spotted with the naked eye on relatively clear nights. Venus will shine brightly, while Saturn will be slightly dimmer. Using a telescope, you can see Saturn’s rings.
March: Total lunar eclipse
The last total lunar eclipse that Southern Californians saw occurred in 2022. This spectacular event occurs when the moon enters Earth’s shadow and turns a blood-red color as we all approach.
According to the Griffith Observatory, this color is due to the fact that Earth’s atmosphere acts as a lens, preferentially directing red and orange light toward the moon’s surface.
In 2025, a total solar eclipse will occur on March 14th. Weather permitting, you’ll be able to view the total eclipse starting at 8:57 PM Pacific Time.
March: Watch Saturn’s rings disappear
Bring out your telescope gear and watch Saturn’s magic trick: its disappearing rings.
Our view of the planet and its rings changes as it moves through its orbit. According to NASA, the rings appear to disappear because we’re looking directly at them because the orbits of Earth and Saturn are tilted relative to each other.
On March 23, Saturn’s tilt will match that of Earth, and the thin rings will become almost invisible. This will be the narrowest the ring will be visible in 2025, and you probably won’t be able to see it without equipment.
June: Mercury takes a bow
Mercury is difficult to spot from Earth because it is so close to the Sun. According to NASA, the planet can only be seen at dawn or dusk, when the sun’s brightness does not exceed it.
That will change on June 26, when the solar system’s smallest planet will be about 15 degrees above the horizon, about 15 to 20 minutes after sunset, according to High Point Scientific.
Experts say this is the best chance in 2025 to see both Mercury and the Moon together in the evening sky using a telescope.
August: Venus and Jupiter become friends
Scientific experts are calling this rare event in August a can’t-miss opportunity to see the two brightest planets close together. Before dawn on August 12th, Venus and Jupiter will be visible close together in the eastern sky.
According to High Point Scientific, Venus will shine whiter than Jupiter. By comparison, Jupiter is dimmer and has a golden glow.
If you look through a telescope, you can see Jupiter’s striped atmosphere and the four Galilean moons, which look like tiny dots arranged around Jupiter, according to National Geographic.
September: Waning Crescent, Venus, Regulus
If you look up to the eastern sky about 45 minutes before sunrise on September 19th, people living on the East Coast will see the crescent moon, Venus, and the bright star Regulus lined up.
For those in Southern California, the crescent moon and Regulus could form a triangle to the left or lower left of Venus 45 minutes before the sun rises that day.
This trio shines brightly, but Venus shines brighter than the other two, and Regulus has a pale hue.
Experts said the event was visible to the naked eye, but binoculars or a telescope are recommended for a better view.
December: Geminid meteor shower
If you missed the Geminid meteor shower over the weekend, you still have a chance to see it next year.
According to NASA, the debris that causes the annual Geminid meteor shower originated from an asteroid known as 3200 Phaethon.
The full moon occurs about 10 days before the Geminid meteor shower is expected to reach its maximum. However, by December 13th and 14th, the moon will be a waxing moon, and its brightness will not overwhelm the sky. More importantly, it won’t interfere with viewing the meteor shower, Highpoint Scientific said.
Two hours after sunset on December 13th, you can look up at the sky from away from the moon and look for shooting stars. The show is expected to continue until early the next morning.
The Geminid meteor shower can produce up to 50 meteors per hour during its typical peak date, December 13-14.
