Welcome to your essential guide for all things celestial in 2025! Get ready for a year filled with cosmic wonders, from spectacular meteor showers to ambitious rocket launches. This calendar, compiled by experts, ensures you won’t miss a single ‘out of this world’ event.
Image: The barred spiral galaxy NGC 1512 captured by the James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team, via Reuters
How to Use This Calendar
The New York Times has proudly presented this calendar to readers since 2017. It’s a carefully curated collection of newsworthy events in spaceflight and astronomy, selected by our expert journalists.
The entries you see here will be updated regularly throughout the year to reflect the latest dates and revised information. New events will be added as they’re confirmed, and past events or those postponed indefinitely will be removed.
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Answers to Common Questions
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Late October or Early November: Blue Origin’s Twin NASA Satellites Set for Mars Mission
Illustration: An artist’s concept of one ESCAPADE spacecraft above Mars. Credit: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA
ESCAPADE, a small NASA-funded mission, features two orbiters named Blue and Gold. Operated by the Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, these satellites will journey around Mars to meticulously study the Red Planet’s magnetic bubble.
Despite their compact size, these twin satellites are set to launch on New Glenn, the formidable rocket developed by Blue Origin, founded by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. This marks only the second flight for New Glenn, following its successful debut in January. We will provide an updated, more precise launch date as soon as NASA or Blue Origin makes an announcement.
Oct. 21-22: Orionids Meteor Shower to Dazzle Skies
Photo: The Orionids meteor shower as seen from Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2009. Credit: Petar Petrov/Associated Press
Active from Oct. 2 to Nov. 12. Peak night: Oct. 21 to 22.
The Orionids are a favorite among meteor shower enthusiasts, renowned for their bright, swift streaks that appear near Orion’s Belt. Much like the Eta Aquarids shower in May, the Orionids occur as Earth travels through the cosmic debris left behind by Halley’s Comet.
This impressive shower is visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This year promises excellent viewing conditions, as the moon will be barely visible, just about 2 percent full.
Nov. 16-17: Leonids Meteor Shower Peaks with Fast, Bright Streaks
Photo: The Leonid meteor shower viewed from North Macedonia in November 2020. Credit: Georgi Licovski/EPA, via Shutterstock
Active from Nov. 3 to Dec. 2. Peak night: Nov. 16 to 17.
The Leonids deliver some of the fastest meteors each year, blazing across the sky at 44 miles per second, often leaving behind long, brilliant tails.
These meteors can be observed originating from the constellation Leo and are visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. This year, with the moon only 9 percent full, conditions are favorable for spotting the Leonids.
Dec. 12-13: Geminids Meteor Shower, a Yearly Highlight, Reaches Peak
Photo: A meteor over Lukeville, Ariz., during the Geminids meteor shower in December 2023. Credit: Go Nakamura/Reuters
Active from Dec. 1 to Dec. 21. Peak night: Dec. 12 to 13.
Originating from debris left by an asteroid, the Geminids are consistently one of the most powerful and anticipated meteor showers annually. While best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, observers south of the Equator can also enjoy this spectacular display.
The Geminids will reach their peak when the moon is approximately 40 percent full.
Dec. 21: Winter Solstice Marks Northern Hemisphere’s Longest Night
Illustration: Earth at the winter solstice. Credit: Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory
This date marks the official start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, as this half of our world tilts furthest away from the sun. It’s the shortest day of the year for those in the North.
Dec. 21-22: Ursids Meteor Shower Illuminates Winter Solstice
Illustration: A rendering of the orbit followed by the Ursids meteor shower. The white line shows the shower’s path, and the bright blue line in the middle represents the Earth’s orbit. Credit: Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens
Active from Dec. 16 to Dec. 26. Peak night: Dec. 21 to 22.
Coinciding with the winter solstice, the Ursids offer a festive light show. Meteors from this shower appear to radiate near the Little Dipper, part of the constellation Ursa Minor.
This shower is exclusively visible to skywatchers in the Northern Hemisphere. Conditions for viewing should be favorable, with the moon only 3 percent full.
Tips for Enjoying a Meteor Shower
Photo: Two people enjoying the Perseid meteor shower at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. Credit: Michael Ciaglo for The New York Times
While our universe is packed with incredible cosmic wonders, only a few astronomical events can be truly enjoyed with the naked eye. Meteor showers, those natural celestial fireworks that streak brilliantly across the night sky, are a prime example.
Where Meteor Showers Originate
You might occasionally spot a solitary meteor on any clear night, but your best chance of seeing many is during a meteor shower. These showers occur when Earth journeys through the trails of dust and rock left behind by a comet or asteroid as it orbits the sun. This debris, sometimes as small as a grain of sand, burns up upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, creating a luminous streak of light.
Meteor showers are predictable, occurring around the same time each year and lasting for days or even weeks. However, there’s a narrow window when each shower reaches its peak – this is when Earth passes through the densest part of the cosmic debris. The peak is the optimal time for viewing, as the meteors will appear to originate from a specific point in the sky.
For instance, the Perseid meteor shower reaches its zenith in mid-August, seemingly emanating from the constellation Perseus. Similarly, the Geminids, an annual December event, radiate from the constellation Gemini.
Best Practices for Viewing a Meteor Shower
Michelle Nichols, the director of public observing at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, advises against using telescopes or binoculars for meteor shower viewing.
“You just need your eyes and, ideally, a dark sky,” she explained.
This is because meteors can span vast sections of the sky, and specialized equipment would restrict your field of view.
Some intense showers can produce up to 100 streaks per hour, though you might not witness quite so many due to local conditions.
“Almost everybody is under a light-polluted sky,” Ms. Nichols noted. “You may think you’re under a dark sky, but in reality, even in a small town, you can have bright lights nearby.”
To find optimal viewing locations away from excessive light, consult planetariums, local astronomy clubs, or online light pollution maps. The best conditions for a meteor shower include a clear sky, minimal moonlight or cloud cover, and observations typically between midnight and sunrise. Remember to allow your eyes at least 30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
Ms. Nichols also suggests dressing in layers, even during warmer months. “You’re going to be sitting there for quite a while, watching,” she said. “It’s going to get chilly, even in August.”
Consider bringing a warm drink like cocoa or tea. Then, relax, scan the expansive sky, and prepare to be amazed by the celestial spectacle.
Key Events and Predictions for Space and Astronomy in 2025
Photo: The Dream Chaser, built by Sierra Space, undergoing testing at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. The company hopes it will carry cargo to the International Space Station for the first time this year. Credit: Jef Janis/NASA
Humanity titled its most recent 366-day journey around the sun “2024,” and it was packed with astronomical and spaceflight excitement. North America witnessed a spectacular solar eclipse. Two robotic landers successfully reached the lunar surface, largely intact. The most powerful rocket booster ever constructed was expertly caught by mechanical arms nicknamed “chopsticks.” A pioneering mission began its journey to Jupiter’s icy ocean moon Europa. And private astronauts completed a daring spacewalk.
Can the upcoming revolution around the sun, which we’ll call “2025,” live up to such a standard? We invite you to judge for yourself how excited you should be about the events slated for launchpads and the night sky. For continuous updates on these and other events, bookmark The Times Space and Astronomy calendar.
Jeff Bezos Enters the Orbital Arena
Photo: The New Glenn vehicle was rolled out at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in February to undergo a series of tanking and mechanical system tests. Credit: Blue Origin
Elon Musk, through SpaceX, has largely dominated planetary spaceflight in recent years. However, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s ambitions beyond Earth could soon pose a significant challenge to Musk’s ventures.
Blue Origin, the space company established by Mr. Bezos, possesses a powerful rocket named New Glenn, which is finally expected to launch in 2025. Similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, New Glenn’s booster stage is designed for full reusability, aiming to reduce launch costs through repeated flights. This rocket is slated to carry national security satellites for the U.S. military and various NASA spacecraft, including Mars orbiters and lunar landers.
Additionally, New Glenn will transport satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper. This initiative aims to deploy a massive constellation of internet-beaming satellites from space, directly competing with SpaceX’s Starlink network. Amazon also plans to utilize rockets from several of Blue Origin’s rivals for Kuiper satellite launches, including United Launch Alliance, Arianespace of France, and even SpaceX itself.
Rubin’s First Glimpse of Light
Photo: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory, in the Coquimbo region of Chile, in January 2024. Credit: Javier Torres/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
Perched atop a mountain in central Chile, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory is nearing completion and may capture its inaugural views of the night sky as early as July 4 this year.
Originally known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the observatory was renamed in 2020 in tribute to Vera Rubin, a groundbreaking astronomer who passed away at 88 in 2016. Dr. Rubin’s pivotal research provided compelling evidence for the existence of dark matter, an enigmatic substance that constitutes the vast majority of mass in the universe, yet remains poorly understood.
The observatory’s name is highly appropriate. Equipped with the world’s largest digital camera, scientists will use the Rubin Observatory to create a dynamic time-lapse movie of the Southern sky. These images are expected to significantly advance our understanding of dark matter, as well as dark energy—the mysterious force accelerating the expansion of the cosmos. This rich dataset will also shed light on the origins of our galaxy and help catalog asteroids and comets within our solar system, including those that could potentially impact Earth in the future.
The Moon, and Political Shifts, Re-enter the Spotlight
Photo: The core stage of NASA’s Space Launch System, the rocket that will be used for the Artemis II moon mission, at Cape Canaveral, Fla., in July. Credit: Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
During Donald J. Trump’s first presidency, American space policy underwent a significant shift, re-centering its focus on lunar exploration. President Biden’s administration continued this trajectory. However, with Mr. Trump’s potential return to the White House in January, existing space plans could face disruption. This might involve canceling NASA’s costly Space Launch System rocket, which has been under development for over a decade. Alternatively, Mr. Trump could instigate a more radical reorientation of NASA’s priorities towards sending humans to Mars. Reaching the Red Planet is a primary objective for Elon Musk, who has been advising the president-elect.
Despite this potential for policy shifts, several robotic space missions to the moon are scheduled for early in the year. The first two missions, involving landers from the American company Firefly Aerospace and Japan’s Ispace, are set to launch together on a SpaceX rocket as early as mid-January. Firefly’s mission will be the maiden voyage of its Blue Ghost lander, carrying cargo funded by NASA. For Ispace, this lunar journey marks its second attempt, following the unfortunate crash of its first lander onto the moon’s surface in 2023.
Later in the first quarter, Intuitive Machines may undertake another robotic lunar landing attempt. This follows the company’s Odysseus lander successfully reaching the surface last February, albeit in a tilted position. Intuitive Machines’ second lander, named Athena, will also transport NASA-financed instruments, including a drill designed to extract ice samples. Athena will share a SpaceX launch vehicle with Lunar Trailblazer, a NASA orbiter dedicated to studying water on the moon.
Vigils for the Veteran Voyagers 1 and 2
Grid of Images: Clockwise from top left: Uranus, seen by Voyager 2 on its way to visit Neptune in 1986; the “Pale Blue Dot” of Earth as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990; Jupiter, Io and Europa seen by Voyager 1 in 1979; Voyager 2 in a clean room of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., in 1977. Credit: NASA/JPL, EPA, via Shutterstock, NASA/JPL-Caltech, NASA/ARC
Voyagers 1 and 2, the twin spacecraft that inspired a generation of cosmic explorers, were launched in 1977. After decades of venturing through the outer solar system and charting the unknown frontier of interstellar space, both spacecraft are now showing their age.
Early in their incredible journey, the pair made close flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, with Voyager 2 extending its tour to include Uranus and Neptune. However, perhaps the mission’s most enduring legacy is the iconic “Pale Blue Dot” photograph of Earth, a tiny pixel against the vastness of space, a term famously coined by astronomer Carl Sagan.
In recent years, these robotic explorers have experienced intermittent contact with NASA. Communication with Voyager 2 was intentionally suspended for several months in 2020 for maintenance, then accidentally lost for a few weeks in 2023 before being successfully restored.
Voyager 1, on the other hand, caused concern among mission specialists earlier this year when it ceased transmitting data back to Earth. To conserve their dwindling power, instruments on both spacecraft have been gradually shut down.
Despite these challenges, NASA is not yet ready to give up on them. When these venerable spacecraft eventually settle into their final resting place in the silent expanse between the stars, it will be a fitting tribute to a duo that ventured where no other spacecraft had gone before.
India’s Ambitious Orbital Objectives
Photo: Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in February shaking hands with members of the planned Gaganyaan mission: from left, Prasanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap and Shubhanshu Shukla. Credit: Press Information Bureau Handout/EPA-EFE, via Shutterstock
India’s impressive space program has achieved significant milestones, including landing a robot on the moon and successfully placing a spacecraft into orbit around Mars. Now, the nation’s most immediate priorities, while closer to Earth, are no less ambitious.
India is now intensely focused on human spaceflight. Shubhanshu Shukla, a member of the country’s astronaut corps, is scheduled to spend up to 14 days this spring aboard the International Space Station as part of a commercial mission with Axiom Space.
Mr. Shukla and his fellow Indian astronauts aspire to be the first to launch into low Earth orbit on their country’s own domestically developed rockets. India announced in December that an orbital vehicle from its Gaganyaan program was being prepared for an uncrewed test launch. A successful test flight could pave the way for a crewed Indian astronaut launch as early as 2026.
New Milestones and Forthcoming Spacecraft
Photo: SpaceX’s large rocket booster returning to the launchpad for a “chopsticks” catch in Boca Chica, Texas, after a test flight in October. Credit: Eric Gay/Associated Press
SpaceX captivated global attention in November with Flight 5 of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built. This year, anticipate further attempts by the company to replicate the spectacular “chopsticks” catch of its colossal Super Heavy booster. SpaceX may also aim to recover the upper-stage Starship vehicle after it completes its first orbital flight around Earth and returns to the South Texas launch site. The company has indicated a target of 25 Starship launches in 2025, as it advances preparations for the spacecraft to ferry astronauts to the moon under its contract with NASA.
Beyond Starship, several other innovative rockets and spacecraft are slated for their maiden flights in 2025.
One notable newcomer is Neutron, a reusable rocket under development by Rocket Lab, a company founded in New Zealand. Known for regularly launching satellites into orbit with its smaller Electron rocket, Rocket Lab may conduct the first flight of its new Neutron vehicle from a launch site in Virginia.
Another eagerly awaited debut is Dream Chaser, a unique space plane manufactured by Sierra Space. Following delays in 2024, the company is optimistic that Dream Chaser will undertake its first cargo mission to the International Space Station this year.
Sept. 22: Autumn Equinox Arrives
Illustration: Equinoxes occur twice each year, in March and September, when Earth reaches a point in its orbit where the sun shines directly on the Equator. Credit: NASA
The autumnal equinox marks one of two annual moments when Earth’s orbit brings the sun directly over the Equator, resulting in nearly equal periods of daylight and nighttime across the globe. For many, it signifies the official beginning of fall.
March 20: Vernal Equinox Welcomes Spring
Illustration: Earth at the vernal equinox. Credit: Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory
The vernal equinox, one of two yearly events, is when Earth’s orbit positions the sun directly above the Equator, creating almost equal hours of daylight and darkness worldwide. It’s widely recognized as the start of spring.
Jan. 4: Earth Reaches Perihelion, Closest Point to the Sun
Photo: The setting sun, at perihelion, in Ankara, Turkey, on Jan. 4, 2022. Credit: Cagla Gurdogan/Reuters
Despite the Northern Hemisphere experiencing winter’s chill, our planet will reach its perihelion on Saturday – the point in its elliptical orbit when it is closest to the sun.