Whether you’re booking a trip to a Dark Sky National Park or flying across the world to catch the stars, there are various astronomical events to see this year. 2025 will be filled with supermoons, eclipses, and brilliant meteor showers.
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Astronomical events are such a great thing to plan a camping trip around! Many times, urban light pollution makes viewing the night sky difficult. There’s no better way to experience these celestial wonders than in nature. So pack up the family camping tent for a weekend of celestial wonders!
March 13-14: Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon) – Watch the moon turn a red hue for the first time since 2022. This total lunar eclipse will be visible throughout North and South America. It will be mostly visible in the United States through much of the Midwest and East Coast.
March 29: Partial Solar Eclipse – This gorgeous phenomenon creates a crescent-shaped sun. Early birds will love that it’s visible across eastern North America around sunrise. Additionally, the partial eclipse can be seen in parts of Europe and Northwest Africa.
April 12-18: Planetary Alignment – Venus, Saturn, Mercury, and Neptune will align. Their formation will be in the constellation Pisces. It will occur just before sunrise on the 17th and will be visible in the Southern Hemisphere.
April 21-22: Lyrids Meteor Shower – Point your gaze toward the constellation, Lyra to see a spectacular sight. With up to 20 meteors per hour and spurts of 100 at a time, this meteor shower is a beautiful way to kick off spring. It will be visible in the northern hemisphere, and best viewed on the 21st before moonrise.
May 3-5: Aquarids Meteor Showers – In the southern hemisphere, the Aquarids meteor shower will kick off the month of May. Peaking on the 4-5 just before dawn. Viewers can see around 60 meteors per hour and a multitude of shooting stars. This will truly be a show you won’t want to miss.
June 17: The Arietids Meteor Shower – The month of the Strawberry Moon will bring about the Areietids meteor shower in the eastern sky during sunrise. This is a mostly daytime meteor shower, but under Dark Skies with minimal light pollution, viewers will be able to see some meteors early in the morning.
June 27: June Bootid Meteor Shower – June has a small likelihood of seeing the elusive and sporadic Bootid meteor shower towards the end of the month. While not guaranteed, this beautiful sight may dash a few falling stars overhead!
August 12: Venus and Jupiter – Stargazers will want to stay up extra late tonight to see the two brightest planets– Venus and Jupiter– closely beside one another. This will be easy to see without a telescope on a clear night!
August 12-13: Perseid Meteor Shower – This is one of the most popular meteor showers of the year and one of the best to view. Beware the bright light of the full moon, which may affect visibility.
September 7-8: Total Lunar Eclipse – The second Blood Moon of the year! This total lunar eclipse can be seen from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Australia. Don’t miss this incredible rusty-hued moon ringing in autumn!
October 7: Supermoon – This larger-than-life-sized full moon will shine bright for the start of fall. This should be visible in both hemispheres as the moon rises above the horizon.
November 2: Planetary Alignment – The moon will pass closely beside Saturn and Neptune. It will be especially prominent in the Southern Hemisphere. Saturn is easy to see with the naked eye, as bright as it is. Neptune will require a telescope, but the moon will guide your eyes. Viewers should see a triangle formation between the three.
November 5: Supermoon – Yet another autumn super moon! Visible from everywhere. Look for an area with minimal light pollution, and a clear horizon view for the best image!
November 16-17: The Leonid Meteor Shower – In the Northern Hemisphere, the Leo constellation will be shining bright. Throughout North America, Europe, and northern Asia, onlookers can see 15-20 meteors per hour during its peak after midnight.
December 13-14: Geminid Meteor Shower – A beloved annual meteor shower, you won’t want to miss. The crisp winter night sky sprinkles with shining meteors. This is one of the brightest and strongest meteor showers of the year. The naked eye can even see up to 100-120 meters per hour!
Top Stargazing Locations
So where can you view all these amazing events? Here’s our roundup of the prime locations across the U.S. to pitch a tent, stake out, and peer through a telescope into the cosmos. These areas offer a great opportunity to set up a full cabin tent or canvas glamping tent for a luxurious stargazing/camping experience. You can read more about these Dark Sky parks and more, here.
- Capital Reef National Park, UT
- Arches National Park, UT
- Bryce Canyon National Park, UT
- Big Bend National Park, TX
- Saguaro National Park, AZ
- Big Cypress National Preserve, FL
- Buffalo National River, AR
- Cape Lookout National Seashore, NC
- Craters of the Moon National Monument, ID
- Death Valley National Park, CA
- Curecanti National Recreation Area, CO
Remember to check out programs and events taking place at local observatories in your area, too! It’s important to be mindful of the weather forecast, too, when planning to watch the stars. Check for clear skies and low light pollution.
Tips for Viewing the Stars at Home
We don’t all have access to fancy telescopes and observatories. Heavy light pollution in most urban and residential areas often makes it seem impossible to catch any good views of the stars. But with a few key tips, you too can experience the depths of the night sky from the comfort of your own backyard!
Set Up a Comfortable Spot
This is the perfect opportunity to set up a canvas wall tent in the backyard and cozy up in layers of blankets! Setting up a little campsite in the backyard to watch the stars will make you feel like you’re at a destination! Add some camp chairs that lounge backward, or set up a sleeping pad on the ground so you can have a perfect view of the sky. Don’t forget a thermos of warm tea to keep you awake!
Let Your Eyes Adjust
Getting the most out of stargazing, even in your backyard, means letting your eyes adjust to the dark. Allow yourself up to a full half hour for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness outside. Avoid using any bright lights or flashlights while your eyes adjust. Try turning off any outdoor lights, and stay away from phone screens! In your camp tent accessories, keep a red light, which is much less disruptive to your eyes than regular lights. Let your eyes wander! Use your peripheral vision to get a better view.
Record What You See
Be present in the moment! It will take some intentional patience but will be so worth it. Try not to use your phone, as this will disrupt your night vision, and can mentally take you out of the moment sometimes. Setting up a camera on a tripod in nighttime settings, or journaling under a red light is a great way to record your findings and experiences in the moment. Shooting stars, planetary alignments, and more are such fleeting moments! Soak up as much as you can and record it for the memories of your own further research.
Let’s Go Stargazing!
2025 is your year to catch the very best of what the night sky has to offer. Whether that’s a beloved annual meteor shower, an eclipse, or a planetary alignment! To catch the best views, remember to watch the forecast for clear skies, and find an area with as little light pollution as possible.
Travel to some of the world’s deepest, darkest skies at a Dark Sky park. Or, watch the galaxies float by from the comfort of your own home! With the right preparation and setup, anyone can catch a few shooting stars on a clear night. These celestial events are fleeting moments, so take care to document them and soak up the moment as best you can. This year, let’s put it on the calendar to go stargazing like pros!
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