Upcoming celestial events to watch

The sky is constantly participating in stunning events, from meteor showers to eclipses. No matter where you live, there are multiple opportunities each year to witness breathtaking celestial views — as long as you know where to look. Here is a list of upcoming cosmic phenomena that will make space feel a little closer to home.

Blood moon (March 13 - 14, 2025)

A blood moon or total lunar eclipse will occur in the middle of the night between March 13 and 14. During a total lunar eclipse, the moon "moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or the umbra," said NASA. "Some of the sunlight passing through Earth's atmosphere reaches the Moon's surface, lighting it dimly. Colors with shorter wavelengths — the blues and violets ― scatter more easily than colors with longer wavelengths, like red and orange." This makes the moon appear reddish-orange in the sky.

North America, Central America and South America will be able to see the eclipse. Other parts of the world will likely see a partial eclipse. The blood moon is expected to last just over an hour after 2 a.m. on March 14, during which the moon will be at its reddest.

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Partial solar eclipse (March 29, 2025)

March also includes a partial solar eclipse where the sun will appear as a crescent while the moon mostly covers it. As a result, there will be "noticeable changes in daylight and temperature," said AZCentral. The event is expected to begin just before 5 a.m. EST on March 29 and peak at approximately 6:47 a.m. In the northern hemisphere, some regions could see a maximum of 92% of the sun eclipsed by the moon, "but nowhere on Earth will see a total solar eclipse," said In-the-sky.org.

The eclipse will "be visible in Europe, northern Asia, northern and western Africa, much of North America and northern parts of South America," said AZCentral. Viewing the eclipse directly is dangerous and eclipse glasses are required.

Lyrid meteor shower (April 15 - April 29, 2025)

The Lyrid meteor shower will take place in the middle of April and peak on the dawn of April 22. The meteors in the shower originate from the comet Thatcher. At its peak, there will likely be 10 to 15 Lyrids per hour, however, "the Lyrids are known for uncommon surges that can sometimes bring rates of up to 100 per hour," said EarthSky.

How well the meteors can be seen depends upon a number of factors, "from the time of night to the level of background light," said Royal Museums Greenwich. "A bright sky will drown out the fainter meteors making them much more difficult to see." It's best to view these from a dark location early in the morning on the day of the peak.

Eta Aquarid meteor shower (April 20 - May 21, 2025)

Overlapping with the Lyrid shower, the Eta Aquarids will begin toward the end of April and peak on the dawn of May 5. The Eta Aquarids originate from the famous Halley's comet. At its peak, "in the southern half of the U.S., you might see 10 to 20 meteors per hour under a dark sky, with no moon," said EarthSky. "Farther south — at latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere — you might see two to three times that number."

The Eta Aquarids are visible to the naked eye and do not require a telescope. For best viewing, visit a location free from street lights and light pollution and allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness.

June solstice (June 21, 2025)

June solstice, or summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, is the day when the sun hits the northernmost point on Earth's orbit. This makes it the longest day in the northern hemisphere and the shortest day in the southern hemisphere. "This effect is greatest in locations that are farther away from the equator," said Time and Date. "In tropical areas, the longest day is just a little longer than 12 hours; in the temperate zone, it is significantly longer; and places within the Arctic Circle experience Midnight Sun or polar day, when the Sun does not set at night." The reverse is true in the south, with the Antarctic circle experiencing a polar night.

Perseid meteor shower (July 17 - Aug. 23, 2025)

The Perseid meteor shower will occur throughout the summer and peak around Aug. 12. At its peak, you may see an average of 100 meteors per hour. The Perseids are considered the best meteor shower of the year. "With swift and bright meteors, Perseids frequently leave long 'wakes' of light and color behind them as they streak through Earth's atmosphere," said NASA.

The large parent comet for the shower is called 109P/Swift-Tuttle. The Perseids are "best viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the pre-dawn hours, though at times it is possible to view meteors from this shower as early as 10 p.m.," said NASA.