Next year, a total lunar eclipse will be visible for the first time in three years since 2022. In January, favorable conditions will allow for the observation of the Quadrantid meteor shower. The Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute announced details of significant astronomical events in 2025 on the 23rd.
A total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, Earth, and moon align in a straight line, causing the moon to be completely obscured by Earth's shadow. There will be such eclipses in March and September next year. The total lunar eclipse on March 14 will not be visible from South Korea, but the one on September 8 can be observed in Asia, Russia, Australia, and the Indian Ocean, including South Korea. This total lunar eclipse will start at 2:30:24 a.m. in Seoul, reach its maximum at 3:11:48 a.m., and end at 3:53:12 a.m.
The three major meteor showers—the Quadrantids in January, the Perseids in August, and the Geminids in December—can also be observed as usual. The first meteor shower of the new year, the Quadrantids, is expected to be best viewed on the night of January 3 and into the early morning of January 4. Observing conditions will be very good as there will be no moonlight interfering. The peak of the Perseid meteor shower will occur at 4:47 a.m. on August 13, but conditions won't be ideal due to the bright moonlight throughout the night. The peak time for the Geminid meteor shower is during the day on December 14.
At 4:30 a.m. on August 12, the brightest planets in the night sky, Venus and Jupiter, will come into proximity. The term 'proximity' refers to the case where the angular distance between the two celestial bodies is less than 1 degree from the observation point. On May 4, Mars will be seen clustered within 0.4 degrees of the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer. This cluster can be faintly observed with the naked eye on clear nights without a moon.
There will be partial solar eclipses on March 29 and September 21. A solar eclipse occurs when the sun, moon, and Earth are aligned, causing part or all of the sun to be obscured by the moon. However, both of these solar eclipses will not be visible from South Korea. The partial solar eclipse on March 29 can be observed in Africa, Europe, and Russia, while the one on September 21 can be observed in the Pacific, New Zealand, and Antarctica.
The biggest full moon in 2025 will rise on November 5, while the smallest full moon will be visible on April 13. The size difference between the largest and smallest moons is about 14%. The full moon during Chuseok, on October 6, 2025, will rise at 5:32 p.m. in Seoul. The highest point of the moon will be reached at 11:50 p.m., and it will set at 6:20 a.m. on the 7th. The rising and setting times of the moon can be checked on the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute's website (https://astro.kasi.re.kr/life/pageView/6).