Observing Guide: January and February 2025

Below is your observing guide for January and February 2025.

As winter peaks in the northern hemisphere, the crisp, clear nights offer excellent stargazing opportunities. During these months, some of the year’s most prominent constellations and celestial objects grace the night sky. This guide highlights some of the better targets you should plan to observe. While it doesn’t list all targets, it will give you a good starting point.

For those in the southern hemisphere, these months bring warm summer nights and shorter dark hours, but the celestial views remain spectacular, with many southern sky treasures available for observation.

If you didn’t follow our observing guide for November and December 2024 it is not too late to catch some of those targets.

For more information on this guide and for observing tips see our Observing Guides page.

How to Use This Observing Guide for January and February 2025

The observing guide lists eight categories of astronomical features that may be observed. These are: key constellations, objects near each celestial pole, the Moon and its phases, planets that will be visible, eclipses, conjunctions, meteor showers and comets. Don’t worry if you don’t know what any of these are, as there are explanations for each.

Where possible, it is indicated if each target is visible to the naked eye, using binoculars or if a telescope is required.

The observation guide includes tips on how to observe each type of object.

Change to current time in Stellarium

To aid your sessions, we have included links to each object in the web version of Stellarium. You can click on the highlighted text or the constellation images. If, for some reason, the link doesn’t work, but you arrive at Stellarium, search for the object in the search bar. To change the time to your current time, click on the time in the lower right and click on the small clock between the date and the time, as circled to the right.

Due to time zones, the timing of conjunctions the time of the closest approach depends on your time zone. As such, the link may not take you to when the two bodies are at their closest.

If you are very new to stargazing, we suggest first identifying the constellations detailed below. Locate them and trace out their shape. This will help you learn to navigate the night sky. The time spent will make things much easier when you attempt to locate smaller and fainter targets.

If possible, you should attempt to find a dark site. This will allow you to see all of the targets below. In a large city, the bright sky will wash out all but the brightest objects.

As always, it is a good idea to allow your eyes to become dark-adapted. This can take 30 minutes. During this time, you can study the brighter stars. Remember to use red light and/or a dark theme on any devices you are using.

For dimmer objects, averted vision. We instinctively look directly at what we wish to see. This places the object in the area of the eye that sees color best and in sharp detail. However, it is not the most sensitive part of the eye. To see dim objects, avert your eyes a little. Experiment with averted vision to find where the best spot is for you.

Unless otherwise noted, all photographs of celestial objects in the observation guide are taken by the author. They were either taken through a moderately sized refracting telescope or using a DSLR on a tripod. Keep in mind that these photographs are long exposure and are enhanced. They do not present what you will see with the naked eye.

Key Constellations

A constellation is a recognized pattern of stars in the night sky. These patterns form shapes or configurations that resemble animals, mythological creatures, people, or objects. Ancient civilizations identified and named these patterns to help map the heavens and navigate both land and sea. Some of the most well-known constellations, like Orion, Ursa Major, and the Zodiac constellations, are steeped in myths and legends from ancient cultures.

It is important to understand that the stars in a constellation usually aren’t physically close to each other. The shapes are only based on how the stars appear from Earth.

Below is a list of constellations easily observable in January and February 2025.

Orion

Observing guide for January and February: Orion

Orion is perhaps the most recognizable constellation in the winter sky. This prominent constellation represents the mythical hunter Orion and contains some of the brightest stars visible from Earth. Orion dominates the evening sky during January and February, making it an excellent starting point for exploring the winter constellations.

The constellation’s distinctive pattern includes the three bright stars of Orion’s Belt (Alnitak, Alnilam, and Mintaka), the bright stars Betelgeuse (marking his right shoulder) and Rigel (marking his left foot), and the famous Great Orion Nebula (M42) forming his sword.

Betelgeuse is expected to form a supernova shortly (well, at least in the Universe’s time scale). Some have suggested that it might occur during our lifetimes and may be visible during the day. While unlikely it would be spectacular to see it in 2025.

  1. Naked eye:
  2. Binoculars:
    • M42: Shows significant nebulosity
    • NGC 1981: Open cluster above the Orion Nebula
    • Collinder 70: Large open cluster around Orion’s Belt
  3. Small telescope:
    • M42: Reveals intricate nebulosity and the Trapezium cluster. Don’t miss this one.
    • M43: Small nebula north of M42
    • NGC 2024 (Flame Nebula): Near Alnitak
    • IC 434 (Horsehead Nebula): Dark nebula near Alnitak

Observing Guide for January and February: M42, Horse and Flame nebulae
On the left is M42 (Great Orion Nebula). To the right is an image containing the Horsehead Nebula and the Flame Nebula.

Taurus

Observing guide for January and February: Taurus

Taurus the Bull charges through the winter sky as one of the most ancient and recognizable constellations, its distinctive V-shaped head formed by the Hyades star cluster and marked by the fierce red eye of Aldebaran, a bright orange giant star. This celestial bull has been revered since prehistoric times, appearing in cave paintings dating back 17,000 years. He holds a prominent place in many cultures’ mythologies, most famously in Greek legend, where it was associated with Zeus’s transformation to abduct Europa.

The constellation is particularly notable for hosting two spectacular star clusters visible to the naked eye: the magnificent Pleiades (M45), also known as the Seven Sisters, which forms a sparkling dipper-shaped pattern on the bull’s shoulder, and the larger V-shaped Hyades cluster that forms the bull’s face. Additionally, Taurus contains several fascinating nebulae and variable stars, making it a rich hunting ground for both casual stargazers and serious astronomers alike. The region between the Pleiades and Hyades is particularly rewarding for binocular observers, revealing numerous fainter stars and clusters against the winter Milky Way.

Jupiter will be in Taurus during the months of January and February 2025.

  1. Naked eye:
    • Aldebaran: Bright orange star marking the bull’s eye
    • Pleiades (M45): Visible as a compact group of six or seven stars. Sometimes referred to as the Seven Sisters.
    • Hyades: Large V-shaped cluster forming the bull’s face.
  2. Binoculars:
  3. Small telescope:

M45, The Pleiades
An image of The Pleiades (M45). The blue haze is reflection nebula. Taken through a moderate sized telescope.

Canis Major

Observing guide for January and February: Canis Major

Canis Major, the Great Dog, bounds through the winter sky as a faithful companion to the hunter Orion, dominated by Sirius, the brightest star in Earth’s night sky. This dazzling star, known as the “Dog Star,” blazes at a magnitude of -1.46 and sits relatively close to our solar system at just 8.6 light-years away, making it not only the brightest star we can see but also one of our closest stellar neighbors. The constellation’s distinctive shape traces the form of a large dog standing on its hind legs, with Sirius marking the dog’s nose or neck collar, while other bright stars outline the body, legs, and tail.

Beyond its showpiece star, Canis Major contains a wealth of deep-sky treasures, particularly because it lies along a rich portion of the winter Milky Way. The constellation houses numerous open star clusters, including the brilliant M41, which is visible to the naked eye under dark skies and lies just 4 degrees south of Sirius. The region also features several colorful double stars and nebulae, making it a rewarding target for observers equipped with anything from binoculars to larger telescopes, while its position near the celestial equator ensures it can be observed from most locations on Earth.

  1. Naked eye:
    • Sirius (Alpha Canis Majoris): The brightest star in the night sky
    • The constellation’s distinctive dog shape
  2. Binoculars:
  3. Small telescope:

Thors Helmet
A false color image of Thor’s Helmet. Taken through a moderately sized telescope. This image is the result of nearly 8 hours of exposure time.

Gemini

Observing guide for January and February: Gemini

Gemini, the celestial twins Castor and Pollux, stands as one of the most distinctive zodiacal constellations in the northern winter sky, marked by two bright stars of nearly equal brightness representing the heads of the mythological twins. According to Greek mythology, these twins were the children of Leda – Pollux immortal and fathered by Zeus, Castor mortal and fathered by a king – who shared such an inseparable bond that when Castor died, Pollux begged Zeus to grant his brother immortality, leading Zeus to place them both among the stars. The constellation forms a striking rectangular pattern with two parallel lines of stars extending from the bright heads of the twins, making it easily recognizable even from moderately light-polluted skies.

The constellation is rich in both stellar and deep-sky wonders, anchored by its two brightest stars which offer their own fascinating characteristics – Castor, a remarkable multiple star system consisting of six stars orbiting each other in an intricate celestial dance, and Pollux, an orange giant star now known to host at least one exoplanet. Gemini also lies near a productive region of the winter Milky Way, hosting several bright star clusters, including the magnificent M35, which is visible to the naked eye under dark skies, as well as various nebulae such as the distinctive Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392), making the constellation a rewarding target for observers equipped with any size of optical instrument.

  1. Naked eye:
    • Castor and Pollux: The two brightest stars marking the twins’ heads
    • The full stick-figure pattern of the twins
  2. Binoculars:
    • M35: Large open cluster
    • NGC 2158: Compact cluster near M35. If you observe this, note the color difference between it and M35. This is related to the age of the stars (see photograph below).
  3. Small telescope:

M35 and NGC2158
M35 and NGC 2158.

Auriga

Observing guide for January and February: Auriga

Auriga, the Charioteer, rides high in the northern winter sky, anchored by the brilliant star Capella, the sixth brightest star visible in the night sky and a remarkable system of two binary pairs of stars. The constellation forms a distinctive pentagon or hexagon shape, traditionally depicting a charioteer holding goat kids in his arms. Capella represents the she-goat Amalthea, who, according to Greek mythology, nursed the infant Zeus. This ancient constellation’s prominent position near the winter Milky Way, combined with its bright stars and rich star fields, makes it one of the most rewarding areas of the winter sky for observers of all levels.

What truly sets Auriga apart is its remarkable collection of open star clusters, featuring three bright Messier objects – M36, M37, and M38 – each with its distinct character and all visible in binoculars. The constellation also harbors several stunning emission nebulae, including the Flaming Star Nebula (IC 405). which surrounds the irregular variable star AE Aurigae, and the bright variable star CE Aurigae embedded in IC 410. These deep-sky treasures, combined with Auriga’s position along the winter Milky Way, make it a particularly rich hunting ground for casual stargazers and serious amateur astronomers equipped with telescopes of any size.

  1. Naked eye:
    • Capella: One of the brightest stars in the northern sky
    • The pentagon asterism
  2. Binoculars:
    • M36, M37, and M38: Three bright open clusters
    • NGC 1907: Small open cluster near M38
  3. Small telescope:

Monoceros

Observing guide for January and February: Monoceros

Monoceros, the celestial Unicorn, gallops through some of the richest star fields in the winter sky. However, its stars are so faint that the constellation often eludes casual observers even under dark skies. Wedged between the brilliant constellations of Orion, Canis Major, and Gemini, this relatively modern constellation was introduced by the Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in the early 17th century, adding a touch of medieval fantasy to the classical mythology that dominates the winter sky. While the unicorn’s stars may be dim, its position along one of the brightest portions of the winter Milky Way means it contains some of the most spectacular deep-sky objects visible in amateur telescopes.

The constellation’s true glory lies in its rich collection of nebulae and star clusters, headlined by the remarkable Rosette Nebula complex (NGC 2237-9 and NGC 2244), a vast flower-shaped emission nebula spanning an area larger than the full Moon, and the Christmas Tree Cluster (NGC 2264) with its associated Cone Nebula. Monoceros also contains several fascinating variable stars and multiple star systems, including the spectacular triple star Beta Monocerotis, which legendary observer William Herschel described as “one of the most beautiful sights in the heavens,” and Hubble’s Variable Nebula (NGC 2261), a fan-shaped nebula that changes its appearance over weeks or months, making it a favorite target for patient observers with modest telescopes.

  1. Naked eye:
    • The constellation itself is difficult to see without dark skies
    • Beta Monocerotis region can be spotted near Orion
  2. Binoculars:
  3. Small telescope:

Rosette Nebula and NGC2244
Rosette Nebula and the central cluster NGC2244. Taken with a moderate-sized telescope and dedicated astrophotography camera

Puppis

Puppis

Puppis, representing the stern of the great celestial ship Argo Navis, sails through the southern winter sky as a testament to ancient astronomical history. Originally part of an immense constellation depicting the ship of Jason and the Argonauts, Puppis was separated from the larger Argo Navis in the 18th century by Nicolas Louis de Lacaille, who divided the unwieldy constellation into three more manageable parts: Puppis (the stern), Carina (the keel), and Vela (the sails). Despite this partition, Puppis retains much of the grandeur of its ancient heritage, lying along a brilliant section of the Milky Way and containing numerous bright stars, including Zeta Puppis, one of the brightest and most luminous stars visible to the naked eye and the closest known O-type supergiant to Earth.

The constellation is particularly notable for its remarkable collection of open star clusters, a celestial treasure trove that includes the stunning Messier objects M46 and M47, along with dozens of other bright NGC clusters that make it a favorite target for both visual observers and astrophotographers. Among its most fascinating features is the unique pairing of M46 with the planetary nebula NGC 2438, which appears to float within the star cluster (though it’s actually a foreground object), and the highly structured planetary nebula NGC 2440, which contains one of the hottest known white dwarf stars. This rich assortment of deep-sky objects, combined with its position along the Milky Way, makes Puppis a rewarding target for observers equipped with any size of optical instrument, though its southern position means observers in northern latitudes will need a clear southern horizon to fully appreciate its splendors.

  1. Naked eye:
    • Zeta Puppis: Brightest star in the constellation, a blue supergiant. It has also been called Naos.
    • Pi Puppis: Bright orange giant star
    • The general path of the Milky Way through the constellation
  2. Binoculars:
    • M46: Large, rich open cluster
    • M47: Bright, scattered open cluster
    • NGC 2451: Bright open cluster
    • NGC 2477: Rich open cluster resembling a globular
  3. Small telescope:

M46 and NGC2438
M46 and NGC 2438. The planetary nebula NGC 2438 lies between us and M46. There is a smaller planetary nebula to the left of NGC 2438. Taken with a moderately-sized telescope and dedicated astrophotography camera.

Objects Near the Celestial Poles

Northern Celestial Pole Region

The northern celestial pole region remains relatively unchanged from previous months, offering consistent circumpolar targets for observation. The primary marker remains Polaris, the North Star, which stays nearly stationary while other stars appear to rotate around it.

  1. Naked eye:
  2. Binoculars:
    • NGC 40: Planetary nebula in Cepheus
    • NGC 188: Ancient open cluster
    • NGC 457 (Owl Cluster) in Cassiopeia
  3. Small telescope:

Southern Celestial Pole Region

For southern hemisphere observers, the summer months of January and February offer excellent views of the southern celestial pole region and its rich collection of objects.

Jewel Box Cluster
Jewel Box Cluster (Credit ESO)
  1. Naked eye:
  2. Binoculars:
  3. Small telescope:

47 Tucanae (NGC104)
47 Tucanae (NGC104)

Moon Phases for January and February 2025

January 2025

  • First Quarter: January 7
  • Full Moon: January 13
  • Last Quarter: January 21
  • New Moon: January 29

February 2025

  • First Quarter: February 5
  • Full Moon: February 12
  • Last Quarter: February 20
  • New Moon: February 27

Impact of Moon Phases on Observation

  • New Moon: Best time for observing faint deep-sky objects
  • First Quarter & Last Quarter: Excellent for lunar feature observation
  • Full Moon: Perfect for lunar maria observation but limits deep-sky viewing

Observing Tips

  • Plan deep-sky observations around the New Moon periods
  • The days around First and Last Quarter offer dramatic views of lunar features
  • Remember that the Moon rises approximately 50 minutes later each day

Visible Planets in January and February 2025

In January, six planets will grace the skies. From sunset until the middle of the night, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus will be aligned along the ecliptic. Of course, the Moon will join them in the early part of the month. You will need a telescope to observe Neptune and Uranus.

Mercury

  • Visibility: Poor visibility in January, improving in late February
  • Best viewing: Late February in the evening sky
  • Next Greatest Eastern Elongation: March 8, 2025

Venus

  • Visibility: Bright evening “star” visible after sunset
  • Location: In the western sky after sunet
  • Greatest Eastern Elongation: January 10, 2025

Mars

  • Visibility: Visible most of the night. Rises soon after sunset
  • Opposition: January 16, 2025 (closest approach to Earth)
  • In retrograde motion until February 23, 2025
  • Best viewing: most of the night, especially around opposition

Jupiter

  • Visibility: Visible most of the night in Taurus
  • Best viewing: At any time, best is when it is high in the sky
  • In retrograde until February 4, 2025

Saturn

  • Visibility: Poor visibility and progressively setting earlier, lost in evening twilight by end of January
  • Best viewing: soon after sunset
  • Conjunction with Sun: February 28, 2025

Uranus

  • Visibility: visible all night, requires binoculars or telescope
  • Location: In Monoceros
  • Retrograde motion ends: January 27, 2025

Neptune

  • Visibility: Evening sky, requires telescope
  • Location: In Pisces
  • Best viewing: Early evening before setting, not visible after the first week of February

Eclipses in January and February 2025

Penumbral Lunar Eclipse

  • Date: March 14, 2025 (outside this period)
  • No eclipses occur during January and February 2025

Notable Conjunctions in January and February 2025

January 2025

February 2025

  • Moon-Saturn Conjunction
    • Date: February 1, 2025
    • Visible soon after sunset
    • Details: Challenging to observe due to twilight
  • Moon-Venus Conjunction
    • Date: February 1, 2025
    • Details: Visible in evening twilight
    • Venus on the other side of the Moon from Saturn
  • Moon-Mars Conjunction
    • Date: February 9, 2025
    • Visible all night
    • Located near the bright stars Pollux and Caster

Observing Tips for Conjunctions

  1. Lunar conjunctions are visible to the naked eye. They provide excellent opportunities for astrophotography.
  2. For planetary conjunctions, binoculars can enhance the view, allowing you to see both objects in the same field of view.
  3. Conjunctions involving Uranus are good opportunities to locate this faint planet using the much more visible Moon as a guide. Use binoculars or a small telescope.
  4. While these conjunctions are visible from most locations on Earth, the exact appearance and timing can vary slightly depending on your specific location. Always check local astronomical resources for precise timing and visibility information.

Remember, conjunctions are line-of-sight events. The objects aren’t actually close to each other in space, they just appear close from our viewpoint on Earth.

When clicking the links to view the event in Stellarium remember to ensure that your location and time are set correctly.

Note: This list includes the most notable conjunctions. There may be additional, less prominent conjunctions during this period. Check astronomical almanacs or reliable online sources closer to the date for a complete list and for the most accurate timing information.

Meteor Showers in January and February 2025

January Meteor Showers

Quadrantids

  • Active period: December 28 – January 12
  • Peak: January 3-4, 2025
  • Parent body: Asteroid 2003 EH1
  • ZHR: 120 (variable)
  • Notes: Short, intense peak lasting only a few hours. Best viewed from Northern Hemisphere

February Meteor Showers

No major meteor showers occur in February 2025. However, sporadic meteors can always be seen under dark skies.

Observing Tips for Meteor Showers

  • Choose a dark site away from city lights
  • Allow 30 minutes for dark adaptation
  • Use a reclining chair or blanket
  • Best viewing typically after midnight
  • No optical aid needed
  • Be patient – activity comes in spurts

Comets

For those in the southern hemisphere, comet G3 Atlas (C/2024) is set to grace the skies in the middle of January. This comet was discovered in early April 2024. It will pass within 14 million km (8.7 million miles) of the Sun and may become the brightest comet for 20 years. The comet can be found in the northeastern horizon. Interestingly, this comet was thought to be last close to the Sun 160,000 years ago.

Other Notable events

This section contains the details of other astronomical events you can not directly observe. It gives details of events that you may find of interest.

On January 4 the Earth will be at Perihelion. Perihelion is the point in a planet’s orbit that it is closest to the Sun. The Earth with be 91,405,993 miles (147,103,686km or 0.98333 AU) from the Sun.

Robert Findlay
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