Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn… will have interesting “performances” in the sky that astronomy lovers can observe in 2025. Below is the forecast of the Hanoi Astronomical Society (HAS).
1. Venus reaches maximum eastern elongation (January 10)
Venus will be at its farthest from the sun during this evening sky appearance at 3:31 p.m. on January 10, 2025. The planet shines with an apparent magnitude of 4.4 and can be easily seen with the naked eye in the west just after sunset.
Night sky 2025 with exciting display of planets
PHOTO: HUY HYUNH
Normally, when viewed from Earth, Venus appears close to the Sun in the sky and is "drowned" in the star's bright light for most of the time. At its maximum elongation, Venus appears so bright and prominent that it becomes the second brightest object in the night sky after the Moon. These appearances occur about once every 1.6 years.
2. Mars reaches opposition (January 16)
Mars reached opposition, the position opposite the sun in the sky as seen from Earth, at 9:32 a.m. on January 16. Mars appeared about 7° above the northeast horizon shortly after sunset, was highest in the sky at midnight, and was still about 10° in the northwest when dawn broke. At the same time as opposition, Mars also made its closest approach to Earth, making the planet appear brightest and largest during this appearance.
Which planets in the solar system do you expect to see in 2025?
PHOTO: HUY HYUNH
3. Venus reaches maximum elongation to the West (June 1)
After taking a break from the evening show, Venus quickly returns to shine in the early morning sky just before sunrise. On June 1, the planet will reach its greatest western elongation. Venus will be a bright spot of light that draws in all the light. It will rise into the sky at 2:30 a.m. and will be about 36° above the eastern horizon when the sun rises.
4. Venus and Jupiter Conjunction (August 12)
The two brightest planets in the night sky have been moving closer to each other for the past few days. On the morning of August 12, they will appear less than 1° apart, marking their closest approach of the year 2025.
The pair will rise from the eastern horizon at 2:53 a.m. and will be about 31° above the horizon when the sun rises. The last conjunction between the two planets occurred in March 2023, and we had to wait more than two years to see this exciting encounter again. If you miss this conjunction, you will have to wait until June 2026 to once again see the reunion of these two most prominent bright spots in the night sky.
5. Saturn reaches opposition (September 21)
Saturn will reach opposition, the position opposite the sun in the sky when observed from Earth, at 12:37 p.m. on September 21. From Hanoi, Saturn will be visible from 6:43 p.m. when the planet is about 11° above the eastern horizon.
At the same time Saturn reaches opposition, it will also be at its closest approach to Earth, making the planet its brightest and largest of the year. For a few hours around opposition, if you look through a powerful telescope, you will see that Saturn's rings are significantly brighter than the planet's bright disk.
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