Prepare to synchronize your schedule with the awe-inspiring rhythm of our solar system! This guide promises you won’t miss a single breathtaking celestial event or groundbreaking space mission this year.
Image: An enormous spiral galaxy, NGC 1512, blazes with red and orange hues, twisting into a central point of blue light. (Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Janice Lee (STScI), Thomas Williams (Oxford) and the PHANGS team, via Reuters)
How to Navigate Your Cosmic Calendar
Since 2017, this calendar has been your trusted source for significant spaceflight and astronomical events, hand-picked by our expert journalists.
We keep this calendar fresh! Dates and details are frequently updated, new events are added as they’re confirmed, and entries are removed once they’ve passed or are put on hold indefinitely.
The simplest way to stay up-to-date is to bookmark this page and check back often. Below, you’ll find quick guides for common web browsers, plus answers to frequently asked questions.
Your Top Questions Answered
How to Bookmark This Calendar
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Firefox: Click the star icon in your address bar or use the ‘Bookmarks’ menu.
Regarding Calendar Feeds (Google, Apple, Outlook)
The integration of this calendar’s events directly into personal digital calendars (like Google, Apple, and Outlook) has been temporarily paused. Should we reinstate this feature, updated instructions will be available right here.
How to Unsubscribe from Past Digital Calendar Feeds
If you subscribed to a previous year’s digital calendar feed, you can find the necessary unsubscribe instructions in that edition’s guide, available on our website.
Submit Feedback or Event Suggestions
We value your input! To provide feedback or suggest a space or astronomy event we might have overlooked, please email us at spacecalendar@nytimes.com.
September 7-8: Total Lunar Eclipse Visible Across Asia, Australia, Africa, and Europe
Image: Witness the stunning spectacle of a blood moon against a dark sky, as captured during a total lunar eclipse near Melbourne, Australia, in November 2022. (Credit: William West/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
Earth’s shadow will sweep across the Moon, creating the dramatic “blood moon” effect. This total lunar eclipse will be most prominent for observers in Asia and parts of Australia, with visibility also extending to Africa and Europe.
September 22: Welcome Autumn with the Equinox
Image: A striking black-and-white satellite view of Earth during an equinox, illustrating how the sun directly illuminates the Equator twice a year, in March and September. (Credit: NASA)
The autumnal equinox marks one of two moments annually when Earth’s orbit positions it so the sun shines directly on the Equator, resulting in nearly equal day and night across the planet. Many consider this the official start of fall. Explore fascinating facts about the autumnal equinox.
September 23: NASA’s IMAP Mission to Map Our Solar System’s Edge
Image: Dedicated space engineers meticulously work on the NASA Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) spacecraft inside the Astrotech Space Operations facility in Titusville, Florida. (Credit: Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
The Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe, or IMAP, is poised to offer scientists unprecedented insights into the heliosphere, the protective bubble encompassing our solar system. This crucial boundary, shaped by solar wind, separates our cosmic neighborhood from the vast expanse of the Milky Way. Equipped with ten sophisticated instruments, IMAP will orbit the sun, gathering vital data on the heliosphere’s structure, solar weather, and cosmic dust.
Launching from Kennedy Space Center aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, IMAP will not be alone. It will deploy alongside two smaller companions: the Carruthers Geocorona Observatory and SWFO-L1, a satellite from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
September 29: Blue Origin to Launch NASA’s Twin Mars Satellites
Image: An artist’s vibrant concept shows one of the ESCAPADE spacecraft gracefully orbiting Mars, ready to unravel the red planet’s magnetic mysteries. (Credit: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA)
The ESCAPADE mission, a small but significant NASA-funded endeavor, consists of two orbiters, “Blue” and “Gold,” managed by the Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory. Their primary objective is to investigate the magnetic bubble surrounding Mars as they traverse its orbit.
Despite their compact size, these satellites will be propelled into space by Blue Origin’s colossal New Glenn rocket. This mission marks only the second flight for New Glenn, a vehicle developed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s rocket company, which made its inaugural launch in January.
October 22-23: Orionids Meteor Shower Peaks
Active from October 2 to November 12. Peak night: October 22 to 23.
Image: A stunning long-exposure photograph captures the Orionids meteor shower illuminating the night sky above Sofia, Bulgaria, in 2009, with clouds below reflecting distant lights. (Credit: Petar Petrov/Associated Press)
Beloved by stargazers, the Orionids meteor shower creates brilliant, swift streaks of light near the constellation Orion’s Belt. Much like the Eta Aquarids in May, this shower is caused by Earth passing through the dusty trail left by Halley’s Comet.
Visible from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the Orionids promise excellent viewing conditions this year, as the moon will be barely 2 percent full, minimizing light interference.
November 16-17: Leonids Meteor Shower Reaches Peak
Active from November 3 to December 2. Peak night: November 16 to 17.
Image: A vivid streak of light cuts through a starry sky above unique blue-green rock formations, showcasing the Leonid meteor shower in North Macedonia, November 2020. (Credit: Georgi Licovski/EPA, via Shutterstock)
Known for producing some of the fastest meteors annually, the Leonids streak across the sky at an astonishing 44 miles per second, leaving behind luminous, extended tails.
Observers in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres will have a chance to spot these meteors, which appear to radiate from the constellation Leo. Favorable viewing conditions are expected, with the moon only 9 percent full.
December 12-13: Geminids Meteor Shower Peaks
Active from December 1 to December 21. Peak night: December 12 to 13.
Image: A bright meteor streaks across the twilight sky over a silhouetted cactus in the desert landscape of Lukeville, Arizona, captured during the Geminids meteor shower in December 2023. (Credit: Go Nakamura/Reuters)
Originating from debris left by an asteroid, the Geminids consistently rank among the most intense and widely celebrated meteor showers each year. While optimally viewed from the Northern Hemisphere, observers south of the Equator can also enjoy this celestial display.
The peak of the Geminids shower coincides with a moon that is approximately 40 percent full.
December 21: Winter Solstice Arrives
Image: A poignant view of Earth during the winter solstice, with half the planet visible in stark black and white, transitioning into shadow on the top left. (Credit: Robert Simmon/NASA Earth Observatory)
This date marks the scientific commencement of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, as this half of our world experiences its maximum tilt away from the sun.
December 21-22: Ursids Meteor Shower Peaks
Active from December 16 to December 26. Peak night: December 21 to 22.
Image: An illustrative rendering displays the orbital path of the Ursids meteor shower in white, set against the orbits of other planets like Mars (red) and Earth (bright blue) around the sun. (Credit: Ian Webster and Peter Jenniskens)
Coinciding with the winter solstice, the Ursids meteor shower offers a delightful celestial display, with meteors appearing to emanate from near the Little Dipper, part of the constellation Ursa Minor.
Exclusively visible to observers in the Northern Hemisphere, this shower benefits from minimal moonlight, with the moon being only 3 percent full.
Mastering Meteor Shower Viewing
Image: Two individuals relax on a beach, gazing skyward at a star-filled night during the Perseid meteor shower at Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado. (Credit: Michael Ciaglo for The New York Times)
While the universe is brimming with cosmic marvels, only a select few astronomical events can be fully appreciated with the naked eye. Meteor showers are among these, offering spectacular natural firework displays as bright streaks light up the night sky.
The Origin of Meteor Showers
Though a stray meteor might appear on any given night, your best chance to spot one is during a meteor shower. These celestial events occur when Earth’s orbit intersects with trails of debris left by comets or asteroids orbiting the sun. Even tiny particles, some no larger than a grain of sand, create brilliant streaks of light as they incinerate in our planet’s atmosphere.
Meteor showers are predictable annual occurrences, often lasting for days or even weeks. However, the most spectacular viewing opportunities are during their peak, when Earth traverses the densest part of the debris stream. During this period, meteors appear to originate from a single radiant point in the night sky.
For instance, the Perseid meteor shower dazzles in mid-August, seemingly emerging from the constellation Perseus. Similarly, the Geminids, a consistent highlight each December, radiate from the constellation Gemini.
Tips for Optimal Viewing
Michelle Nichols, Public Observing Director at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, advises against using telescopes or binoculars for meteor showers. “You just need your eyes and, ideally, a dark sky,” she explains.
Meteors can traverse vast sections of the sky, and specialized equipment would restrict your field of vision, making it harder to catch the full spectacle.
While some meteor showers can boast rates of up to 100 streaks per hour, according to the American Meteor Society, typical viewing conditions mean you’ll likely see fewer.
“Most people live under light-polluted skies,” Ms. Nichols notes. “You might believe your sky is dark, but even in smaller towns, nearby artificial lights can diminish visibility.”
To find the best viewing locations, consult planetariums, local astronomy clubs, or online light pollution maps. The ideal conditions include a clear, moonless, and cloud-free sky, preferably between midnight and sunrise. Remember that moonlight, much like city lights, can wash out fainter meteors, so allowing your eyes at least 30 minutes to adapt to the dark is crucial.
Ms. Nichols also suggests dressing in layers, even in warmer months. “You’ll be sitting for a while, observing,” she explains, “and it can get quite cool, even in August.”
Consider bringing a warm drink like cocoa or tea. Then, simply recline, scan the vast expanse of the sky, and immerse yourself in nature’s spectacular light show.
A Look Ahead: Space and Astronomy in 2025
Image: The Dream Chaser space vehicle, a product of Sierra Space, is seen standing tall during testing at NASA’s Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio. This year, the company anticipates its inaugural cargo delivery to the International Space Station. (Credit: Jef Janis/NASA)
Our planet’s recent 366-day journey around the sun, known as “2024,” was brimming with astronomical marvels and thrilling spaceflight achievements.
Highlights included a captivating solar eclipse across North America, two robotic lunar landers successfully reaching the Moon’s surface, and the most powerful rocket booster ever built being caught by “chopsticks”-like mechanical arms. A mission to Jupiter’s icy ocean moon Europa commenced, and private astronauts undertook a daring spacewalk.
As we embark on “2025,” will this new orbit around the sun be equally remarkable? We invite you to judge the excitement level of the upcoming events in both rocketry and stargazing.
For continuous updates on these and many other cosmic happenings, make sure to regularly visit The Times Space and Astronomy calendar.
Jeff Bezos: A New Force in Space
Image: The massive New Glenn vehicle is seen being carefully transported to its launch stand at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in February, poised for a series of critical system tests. (Credit: Blue Origin)
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has largely defined recent planetary spaceflight. However, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’s ambitious foray into space, through his company Blue Origin, is set to pose a significant challenge to Musk’s dominance.
Blue Origin, the space enterprise founded by Bezos, boasts a formidable rocket named New Glenn, which is expected to finally make its inaugural flight in 2025. Similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, New Glenn’s booster stage is engineered for full reusability, aiming to significantly reduce launch costs. This rocket is slated to carry national security satellites for the U.S. military and NASA spacecraft, including Mars orbiters and lunar landers.
New Glenn will also transport satellites for Amazon’s Project Kuiper, an ambitious initiative led by Bezos (who remains Amazon’s executive chair) to establish a massive constellation of satellites providing internet access from space. This project directly competes with SpaceX’s Starlink. Interestingly, Amazon intends to utilize rockets from several of Blue Origin’s rivals for Kuiper launches, including United Launch Alliance, France’s Arianespace, and even SpaceX itself.
Rubin Observatory: First Glimpse of Deep Space
Image: An aerial perspective reveals the nearly completed Vera C. Rubin Observatory perched on a rugged, arid mountaintop in Chile’s Coquimbo region, January 2024. (Credit: Javier Torres/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
Perched high on a mountain in central Chile, astronomers are finalizing the construction of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory. This monumental project is expected to capture its inaugural images of the night sky as early as July 4th this year.
Originally known as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope, the observatory was renamed in 2020 to honor the late Vera Rubin, a trailblazing astronomer who passed away in 2016 at 88. Her groundbreaking research was instrumental in convincing the astronomical community of the existence of dark matter, a mysterious substance that constitutes most of the universe’s mass, yet remains largely undefined.
The observatory’s new name is particularly apt. Equipped with the world’s largest digital camera, the Rubin Observatory will create a dynamic time-lapse movie of the Southern sky. These images will be vital for researchers seeking to unravel the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy, the enigmatic force accelerating the universe’s expansion. The vast dataset collected will also contribute to understanding our galaxy’s origins and meticulously cataloging asteroids and comets within our solar system, including any potential Earth-bound objects.
Lunar Missions and Political Currents
Image: NASA’s Space Launch System, specifically the core stage for the Artemis II moon mission, is surrounded by workers in safety vests at Cape Canaveral, Florida, in July, with the launchpad visible in the background. (Credit: Chandan Khanna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images)
The initial Trump administration shifted American space policy towards lunar exploration, a direction largely maintained by President Biden’s administration. However, with Mr. Trump’s potential return to the White House in January, current space plans could face significant changes. This might include the cancellation of NASA’s decade-long, expensive rocket development or a more drastic pivot to prioritizing human missions to Mars, a key ambition of President-elect Trump’s advisor, Elon Musk.
Despite these political uncertainties, several robotic missions to the Moon are scheduled for early in the year. Mid-January could see the launch of two landers on a single SpaceX rocket: Firefly Aerospace’s inaugural Blue Ghost lander, carrying NASA-funded cargo, and Ispace’s second lunar attempt, following their first lander’s crash in 2023.
In the first quarter, Intuitive Machines might dispatch another robotic lander to the Moon. This follows their Odysseus lander’s successful but tilted landing last February. Their second lander, Athena, will also carry NASA-funded instruments, including a drill designed to locate ice samples. Athena will launch alongside Lunar Trailblazer, a NASA orbiter dedicated to studying lunar water, both on a SpaceX launcher.
Monitoring the Venerable Voyagers 1 & 2
Image: A captivating grid of images showcases the legacy of the Voyager missions. Clockwise from top left: Uranus as observed by Voyager 2 en route to Neptune in 1986; Earth’s iconic “Pale Blue Dot” as seen by Voyager 1 in 1990; Jupiter, Io, and Europa as captured by Voyager 1 in 1979; and Voyager 2 in a pristine clean room at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1977. (Credit: NASA/JPL; /EPA, via Shutterstock; NASA/JPL-Caltech; NASA/ARC)
Launched in 1977, the twin Voyager spacecraft, Voyagers 1 and 2, have captivated generations with their epic journey. After decades of exploring the far reaches of our solar system and venturing into the uncharted territory of interstellar space, these venerable probes are now displaying signs of their advanced age.
In their early operational years, the Voyagers conducted spectacular flybys of Jupiter and Saturn, with Voyager 2 extending its grand tour to Uranus and Neptune. However, perhaps their most enduring legacy is the iconic “Pale Blue Dot” image—Earth, a tiny pixel in the vast cosmic ocean—a phrase famously coined by astronomer Carl Sagan.
In recent times, both robotic explorers have experienced intermittent contact with NASA. Communication with Voyager 2 was intentionally suspended for several months in 2020 and then inadvertently lost for a few weeks in 2023 before being successfully restored.
Conversely, Voyager 1 caused concern among mission specialists earlier this year when it ceased transmitting data back to Earth. To prolong their operational lives, instruments on both spacecraft have been powered down to conserve energy.
Nevertheless, NASA remains committed to these missions. When these pioneering spacecraft eventually find their final resting place in the vast interstellar medium, it will be a fitting tribute to their unparalleled journey into the unknown.
India’s Ambitious Orbital Goals
Image: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seen in February shaking hands with the astronauts of the planned Gaganyaan mission: Prasanth Nair, Ajit Krishnan, Angad Pratap, and Shubhanshu Shukla. (Credit: Press Information Bureau Handout/EPA-EFE, via Shutterstock)
Having successfully landed a robot on the moon and placed a spacecraft into Mars’s orbit, India’s space program now sets its sights on ambitious goals closer to home.
The nation is making a significant push into human spaceflight. Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is scheduled for a spring mission with Axiom Space, which could see him spend up to 14 days on the International Space Station.
India announced in December that an uncrewed test flight of the Gaganyaan orbital vehicle is being prepared, with a successful outcome potentially paving the way for a crewed Indian mission as early as 2026.
Upcoming Milestones and New Spacecraft Debuts
Image: SpaceX’s massive rocket booster is captured in an impressive return to its Boca Chica, Texas launchpad in October, emitting a fiery plume as mechanical arms prepare for a “chopsticks” catch. (Credit: Eric Gay/Associated Press)
SpaceX made headlines in November with Flight 5 of Starship, the most powerful rocket ever constructed. The company is expected to attempt more audacious “chopsticks” catches of its massive Super Heavy booster. Furthermore, SpaceX might try to catch the upper-stage Starship vehicle after it completes an Earth orbit and returns to its South Texas launch site, a historic first. With plans for 25 Starship launches in 2025, SpaceX is actively preparing the spacecraft for its crucial role in landing astronauts on the moon under its NASA contract.
Beyond Starship, 2025 could see the debut of several other innovative rockets and spacecraft.
Among these is Neutron, a reusable rocket under development by New Zealand-founded Rocket Lab. Known for its routine satellite launches with the smaller Electron rocket, Rocket Lab may conduct Neutron’s maiden flight from its Virginia launch facility.
Also anticipated is Dream Chaser, a unique space plane crafted by Sierra Space. Following delays in 2024, the company is optimistic about its first mission to transport cargo to the International Space Station this year.