2025 Stargazing Guide

We’re Hanging The Moon

Stargazing and the Moon

Which moon phase is best for stargazing? Most starry sky enthusiasts prefer to observe the sky when the moon isn’t visible. To see planets, stars, galaxies, clusters, the Milky Way and nebulae, the sky must be free of light pollution including moonlight. The darkest skies will be around the new moon, when the moon rises and sets with the sun and therefore, is not in the night-time sky. During a new moon, both the morning and evening sky are moon-free and great for stargazing, especially in dark sky preserves.

As the moon moves to a crescent, the moonlight is still not much brighter than when the moon is new. That changes as the moon grows in illuminated size, but not how you might think. When the moon is first quarter or last quarter, and half lit in the sky, its brightness is only about 1/6th of a full moon. Three nights before a full moon it is still only 1/2 as bright as a full moon. Only during the full moon phase does the moon reach its full brightness.

Stargazers can adjust their observing time to avoid a moonlit sky. The first quarter moon sets at around midnight, so the darkest sky is in the early morning hours. During a last quarter moon, stargazing is better in the evening hours since the moon rises later, about midnight.

If the fuller-than-ideal moon is out while you are stargazing, enjoy the beauty of the illuminated night landscape. For many of us, our love affair with the cosmos started with a full moon.

DISCLAIMER: The lunar cycle lasts about 29.5 days, but the moon's orbit isn't perfectly circular, so the exact timing of moon phases varies. A full or new moon occurs at the precise moment when the Earth, moon, and sun align, but it may appear full or new for 2-3 days. The date of a moon phase on calendars can differ due to time zones (often based on UTC) and whether the exact time occurs during daylight hours, which may shift the display to the night before or after. Accordingly, this guide lists two days for most moon phases.

January 2025

QUADRANTIDS

METEOR SHOWER | January 3-4

The Quadrantids will produce up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show – best viewing after midnight.

FIRST QUARTER MOON | January 6-7

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

VENUS| January 10

Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. The best time to view it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for Venus in the western sky after sunset.

FULL MOON | January 13-14

Known by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their camps.

MARS | January 16

Mars will be at its closest approach to Earth and will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and visible all night long. The best time to view and photograph Mars.

LAST QUARTER MOON | January 21-22

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | January 28-29

Darkest night with no moonlight

FIRST QUARTER MOON | February 5-6

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | February 12-13

Known by early Native American tribes as the Snow Moon because the heaviest snows usually fell during this time of the year.

LAST QUARTER MOON | February 20-21

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | February 27-28

Darkest night with no moonlight

February 2025

March 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | March 6-7

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

MERCURY | March 8

Mercury reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening. Look low in the western sky just after sunset.

DAYLIGHT

SAVINGS TIME | March 9

Our resort near Bryce Canyon springs forward one hour to Mountain Daylight Time at 2 am but our resort near Grand Canyon remains on Mountain Standard Time.

FULL MOON + TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE| March 14

This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Worm Moon because this was the time of year when the ground would begin to soften, and the earthworms would reappear. As the Moon passes completely through the Earth's umbra (dark shadow), it will gradually get darker and then take on a red color. The eclipse will be visible across the western hemisphere.

SPRING EQUINOX | March 20

Equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.

LAST QUARTER MOON | March 22-23

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | March 29

Darkest night with no moonlight

FIRST QUARTER MOON | April 5-6

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | April 13

Known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of one of the first spring flowers, the moss pink or wild ground phlox.

MERCURY | April 21

Mercury reaches greatest western elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

LAST QUARTER MOON | April 21

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

LYRIDS METEOR SHOWER | April 22, 23

The Lyrids usually produce about 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from April 16-25 and peaks on the night of the 22nd and morning of the 23rd. These meteors can sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds. The thin crescent moon will not pose much of a problem so this should be a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.

NEW MOON | April 27-28

Darkest night with no moonlight

April 2025

May 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | May 4-5

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

ETA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER | May 6-7

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Eta Aquarids can produce up to 30 meteors per hour. The shower runs annually from April 19 to May 28 and peaks on the night of May 6 and the morning of the May 7. The waxing gibbous moon will block out some of the fainter meteors this year but if you are patient, you should still be able to catch a some of the brighter ones. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.

FULL MOON | May 12-13

Known by early Native American tribes as the Flower Moon because this was the time of year when spring flowers appeared in abundance.

LAST QUARTER MOON | May 20-21

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | May 27

Darkest night with no moonlight

VENUS | May 31

Venus reaches greatest western elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look in the eastern sky before sunrise.

FIRST QUARTER MOON | June 3-4

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | June 11

Known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon because it coincides with the time of year for peak strawberry harvesting.

LAST QUARTER MOON | June 18-19

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

SUMMER SOLSTICE| June 21

First day of summer and the longest day of the year.

GRAND CANYON STAR PARTY

June 21-28

Telescopes are set up every evening at the Grand Canyon Lodge in this free, open-tothe-general-public event. Astronomy related events include nightly evening programs in the plaza in front of the Visitor Center and telescope viewing behind the Visitor Center where park rangers offer constellation tours.

NEW MOON | June 25-26

Darkest night with no moonlight

BRYCE CANYON ASTRONOMY FESTIVAL

June 25-28

Free with park admission, the Bryce Canyon Astronomy Festival features family-friendly daytime activities, special evening program, telescope viewing and constellation tours.

June 2025

July 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | July 2-3

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

MERCURY| July 4

Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look low in the western sky just after sunset.

. FULL MOON | July 10-11

Known by early Native American tribes as the Buck Moon because the male buck deer would begin to grow their new antlers at this time of year .

LAST QUARTER MOON | July 18-19

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | July 24-25

Darkest night with no moonlight

DELTA AQUARIDS METEOR SHOWER

| July 28-29

The Delta Aquarids can produce up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from July 12 to August 23 and peaks the night of July 28 and morning of July 29. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.

FIRST QUARTER MOON | August 1-2

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | August 9

Known by early Native American tribes as the Sturgeon Moon because the large sturgeon fish were caught around this time of year.

PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER | August 12, 13

The Perseids are famous for producing a large number of bright meteors. The shower runs annually from July 17 to August 24 and peaks this year on the night of August 12 and the morning of August 13. The waning gibbous moon will block out all but the brightest meteors this year. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight.

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LAST QUARTER MOON | August 16-17

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

MERCURY| August 19

Mercury reaches greatest western elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the morning sky. Look low in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

NEW MOON | August 23

Darkest night with no moonlight

August 2025

September 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | September 1

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | September 7-8

Known by early Native American tribes as the Corn Moon because the corn is harvested around this time of year, this moon is also known as the Harvest Moon and is the full moon that occurs closest to the Fall Equinox each year.

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LAST QUARTER MOON | September 14-15

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

SATURN | September 21

Saturn will be at its closest approach to Earth and will be fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be brighter than any other time of the year and will be visible all night long. This is the best time to view and photograph Saturn and its moons. A medium-sized or larger telescope will allow you to see Saturn's rings and a few of its brightest moons.

NEW MOON | September 21-22

Darkest night with no moonlight

FALL EQUINOX | September 22

Equal amounts of day and night throughout the world.

NEPTUNE | September 23

Neptune will be at its closest approach to Earth and fully illuminated by the Sun, brighter than any other time of the year and visible all night long. Due to its distance from Earth, it will only appear as a tiny blue dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

FIRST QUARTER MOON | September 29-30

Darkest after midnight to before sunrise

FULL MOON | October 7

Known by early Native American tribes as the Hunters Moon because the wild game was fattened for the winter and ready to hunt. The first of three supermoons for 2025.

. DRACONIDS METEOR SHOWER| October 7

A minor meteor shower producing about 10 meteors per hour, the Draconids is unusual in that the best viewing is in the early evening instead of early morning. The shower runs annually from October 6 -10 and peaks on the 7th. Unfortunately, the glare from the nearly full moon will block most of the meteors.

LAST QUARTER MOON | October 13-14

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

NEW MOON | October 21-22

Darkest night with no moonlight

ORIONIDS METEOR SHOWER| October 21-22

An average shower producing up to 20 meteors per hour at its peak. The shower runs annually from October 2 to November 7 and peaks on the night of October 21 and the morning of October 22. An excellent year for the Orionids, the moon will be absent all night long, leaving dark skies for an excellent show.

MERCURY | October 29

Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation from the Sun. The best time to view Mercury will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for it in the west just after sunset.

October 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | October 29-30

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

November 2025

DAYLIGHT

SAVINGS TIME | November 2

Our resort near Bryce Canyon falls back one hour to Mountain Standard Time at 2 am joining our resort near Grand Canyon, which remains on MST year-round. .

TAURIDS

METEOR SHOWER| November 4

A long-running minor meteor shower producing about 5-10 meteors per hour. Running from September 7 to December 10, it peaks on the night of November 4, but glare from the full moon will hide most meteors

FULL

MOON | November 5-6

Known by Native American tribes as the Beaver Moon as it was time to set the beaver traps before the ponds froze. The second of three supermoons for 2025.

LAST QUARTER MOON | November 12-13

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

LEONIDS

METEOR SHOWER| November 17-18

Producing up to 15 meteors per hour at its peak, this shower runs from November 6-30 and peaks the night of the 17th and morning of the 18th. This should be an excellent year as the crescent moon means the skies will be dark enough for what should be a great show.

NEW MOON | November 20-21

Darkest night with no moonlight

URANUS | November 21

Uranus will be at its closest approach to Earth and will be fully illuminated by the Sun. Brighter than any other time of the year, it will be visible all night long. Due to its distance, it will only appear as a tiny blue-green dot in all but the most powerful telescopes.

FIRST QUARTER MOON | November 28

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

FULL MOON | December 4-5

Known by Native American tribes as the Cold Moon because it is the time of year when winter settles in, and the nights are long and dark. The last of three supermoons for 2025.

. MERCURY | December 7

Mercury reaches its greatest western elongation from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the eastern sky just before sunrise.

LAST QUARTER MOON | December 11-12

Darkest after sunset to before midnight

GEMINIDS METEOR SHOWER| December 13-14

The king of the meteor showers, it is one of the best with up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour. The shower runs from December 7-17 and peaks the night of the 13th and morning of the 14th. Best viewing will be after midnight.

NEW MOON | December 20

Darkest night with no moonlight

WINTER SOLSTICE| December 21

This first day of winter is the shortest day of the year.

URSIDS METEOR SHOWER| December 21-22

A minor shower with about 5-10 meteors per hour. Running from December 17-25, it peaks the night of the 21st and morning of the 22nd . The crescent moon sets early leaving dark skies for the show.

December 2025

FIRST QUARTER MOON | December 27-28

Darkest after sunset to before midnight