5 Stargazing Challenges - National Astronomy Week 2025

Challenge 1: Moon, Venus and Saturn

On 1 February, can you catch Venus and Saturn positioned on either side of the Moon?

Look to the southwest around 18:00, at the start of National Astronomy Week, to spot the waxing crescent Moon with the planet Venus sitting just above it and, Saturn a little further below.

They’ll set under the western horizon in the early evening, so don’t wait too late to try and catch the trio together. Both Venus and Saturn are visible to the naked eye, so you don’t need any equipment to catch them. If you have a smartphone, you could try catching the spectacle using the night or astrophotography mode on your camera.

Venus will appear the brighter of the two planets – it’s much closer to us and its thick atmosphere reflect more sunlight making it appear more striking. Besides the Sun and Moon, Venus is the brightest object in the sky, so will often appear as the first star-like point as the Sun begins to set.

With a telescope you should be able to make out the thin rings around Saturn. Every 13-15 years Saturn undergoes something known as a ring plane crossing. Because Saturn's tilt relative to Earth changes over time, from time to time, the rings align with our viewpoint and appear to disappear! The next ring plane crossing will happen in March 2025, so its rings do look very thin at the moment.

Challenge 3 - Moon and Jupiter

Can you see Jupiter beside the Moon on 6 February?

Sticking to a viewing time of 18:00, look high in the southeast to find the waxing gibbous moon nestled above the planet Jupiter on 6 February.

The pair will be visible throughout much of the night moving westwards and setting in the early hours of the following morning. But they’ll be sat high in the southern part of the sky between 18:00 – 21:00 so are best viewed then. Too far separated to be seen through a telescope together, they’re both still worth a look through optical kit if you have some to hand.

Jupiter is usually the second brightest naked eye planet – its immense size reflects more sunlight to making it easier to spot. Through a good pair of binoculars, you could even see the four large Galilean moons orbiting around it – they’ll appear as point-like objects. And with a telescope Jupiter’s bands can become noticeable.

Around the quarter phases is a good time to point your optical devices towards the Moon – in particular its terminator. The shadows cast by the crater walls make them stand out and give a real three-dimensional perspective of the lunar surface.

Some good smartphone cameras can capture some awesome images of the Moon and using a smartphone telescope adapter, you can position your phone steadily over your telescope’s eyepiece and take a great magnified image of the Moon.

Challenge 5 - Moon and Mars

Can you find Mars beside the Moon on 9 February?

For the final challenge of the week, can you spot Mars right next to the waxing gibbous moon on 9 February. Again, viewing at 18:00. look to the east to find the closest approach of the Moon with a planet this week.

Mars’ red appearance will be noticeable even with the naked eye. Its distinctive colour comes from the iron oxide or rust in its soil.

Having reached opposition on 16 January, which is where the Earth finds itself directly between the Sun and Mars, the red planet is well placed for viewing. At this time its roughly at its closest position to Earth so appears slightly bigger and brighter in the sky making it more prominent.

With a telescope you may be able to make out the darker and lighter patches on the planet’s surface and perhaps even its polar ice cap. With Mars and the Moon being particularly close on this evening, you could even capture the two together in the field of view of a telescope – a great photo opportunity.

How did you get on? Did you manage to spot the Moon, catch some planets and get familiar with a few constellations?