If the total solar eclipse in April 2024 sparked a newfound enthusiasm for astrotourism, you can look forward to another banner year for celestial activity. In addition to annual occurrences like meteor showers and supermoons, in 2025, you can also look forward to rarer events like total lunar eclipses (aka blood moons) and a solar maximum leading to particularly striking northern lights.
These stellar events can also motivate you to visit destinations you haven’t considered until now. In March, a total lunar eclipse will cast its otherworldly aura across the Western Hemisphere, making it a great time to head to Chile’s Atacama Desert. This year’s peak solar activity is a good excuse to go hunting for the northern lights in Finnish Lapland.
Michelle Thaller, an astronomer and communication scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, hopes more amateur astronomers will be born as the wonders of our solar system and beyond become increasingly entwined with sustainability, climate change and our place in the universe.
“We live in an environment full of solar flares and comets and asteroids coming around, and there are many ways to feel connected to our larger environment,” Thaller said.
Here are 10 reasons to search for the stars in 2025 (and one bonus reason in 2026).
Solar maximum and dramatic northern lights
When: Ongoing
In October 2024, NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the sun had reached solar maximum, the height of solar activity when the sun naturally switches its magnetic poles. Experts believe this active period, when the sun’s atmosphere ejects trillions of tons of hot hydrogen gas, will continue throughout the year, making 2025 a great time to see nature’s most dramatic light show.
“These big loops of hot gas that are many, many times the size of the earth can go any way in space, but some of them can come toward the earth,” Thaller said.
Auroras form when solar winds made of sun particles upset atmospheric gases, and as the material flies into space and interacts with our atmosphere, it increases the chance of northern and southern lights.
Where to see it
While seeing the auroras is never guaranteed, there’s a better chance than usual to view the northern lights this winter, spring or fall in destinations like Alaska, Finland and Iceland.
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The northern lights are visible in Finnish Lapland roughly 200 nights a year. Luxe accommodations — from insulated domes to glass huts — have been built with prime viewing in mind. For example, the elevated accommodations at the Arctic Treehouse Hotel offer floor-to-ceiling glass windows with panoramic views. You can book it via Hyatt’s Mr & Mrs Smith partnership starting at $278 or 20,000 World of Hyatt points per night.
Related: Best hotels to see the northern lights
Total lunar eclipse
When: March 13-14
Lunar eclipses occur when there is a full moon and Earth is positioned between the moon and the sun. The Earth casts a shadow on the moon’s surface, dimming it and sometimes turning the lunar surface a beautiful red hue for a few hours. This is known as a blood moon. The phenomenon happens because colors with longer wavelengths, like red and orange, make it through Earth’s atmosphere. Shorter-wavelength colors like blues and violets scatter more easily.
Also, cross your fingers for cloudy conditions. The more clouds in Earth’s atmosphere during the eclipse, the redder the moon will be.
Where to see it
Each lunar eclipse is visible from half of Earth, and this one is visible from the Western Hemisphere.
Depending on your time zone, the lunar eclipse will happen on the night of March 13 or early in the morning of March 14. In Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park, an International Dark Sky Park, skywatchers can view the lunar event and blood moon as ancient Puebloans did. They deeply respected the night sky and used the moon, sun and stars to decide when to hold important events. The nearby Holiday Inn Express Mesa Verde-Cortez has family suites and a fun bunk bed fort for kids. Rates start at $106 or 18,000 IHG One Rewards points on the eclipse night.
Looking to go somewhere even more remote? Chile’s Atacama Desert made TPG’s list of the best places to go in 2025 for its ideal dark sky conditions. Check in to the 51-key Our Habitas Atacama, which opened in 2023 and has rates starting at $388 per night during the lunar eclipse.
Partial solar eclipse
When: March 29
The opposite of a lunar eclipse, a solar eclipse happens when the moon passes between the Earth and the sun, casting its shadow on the planet. During a total solar eclipse like last year’s, the moon completely blocks the sun’s rays, making it feel like nighttime in the middle of the day. A partial eclipse is not as dramatic, but people in some places can see the moon covering part of the sun, so the sun looks like a crescent in the sky. This one will happen at sunrise on Saturday, March 29.
You should still wear eclipse glasses or use a safe solar viewing method, such as a pinhole projector, to view the sun during a partial eclipse.
Where to see it
This eclipse will be visible in the early morning from New England in the U.S., eastern Canada, Greenland, most of Europe, northwestern Africa and western Russia. According to timeanddate.com, the partial solar eclipse starts at approximately 4:50 a.m. and ends at 8:43 a.m. EDT, with a maximum phase just before 7 a.m.
Observers in eastern Canada will likely have the best view. Experts predict provinces like Quebec will see over 92% of the sun eclipsed. The fairy-tale Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac has rooms available from $216 the night before the eclipse.
In the U.S., parts of Maine will see about 85% of the sun obscured. Or pair a late-season ski trip with a sunrise eclipse in Vermont, which will see about 50% of the sun obscured. The Lodge at Spruce Peak, a Destination by Hyatt Hotel in Stowe, Vermont, offers ski-in, ski-out access and mountain views. Nightly rates start at $540 or 45,000 World of Hyatt points during the eclipse.
Lyrid meteor shower
When: April 21-22
A meteor shower happens when the Earth passes through the cloud of particles left in the path of a comet. As the comet fragments collide with our atmosphere, they create fiery streaks visible in the night sky, even though they are the size of pebbles. It’s possible to see about 30 meteor showers yearly, including the Lyrids, which peak in late April.
The first Lyrid meteor shower sighting was recorded in China in 687 B.C. The Lyrids don’t tend to leave those glowing dust “trains” as they streak through the Earth’s atmosphere, which we typically associate with meteor showers. However, they can produce bright flashes called fireballs, large explosions of light and color.
Where to see it
The best views of the Lyrids are from the Northern Hemisphere after moonset and before dawn. This year’s shower may not be particularly plentiful, and the moon will be 40% full, brightening the night sky. Still, amateur astronomers should be able to see one meteor streak across the night sky every five minutes April 21 if they’re in a very dark place.
Related: Planning a stargazing expedition? Here’s everything you need to know about Dark Sky Places
The first Dark Sky-certified resort in the world, Utah’s Under Canvas Lake Powell — Grand Staircase, offers a range of amenities for stargazers, including starbathing meditation, telescopes and celestial-themed cocktails. Rates for its Stargazer Tents, which come with a viewing window above the bed, are $659 or 60,750 World of Hyatt points on the peak night of the Lyrids.
To justify the cost, consider this: World of Hyatt is offering double tier-qualifying-night credits for stays at Under Canvas luxury glamping sites between March 7 and June 15 if you register for the promotion online by Feb. 28.
Related: Earn double Hyatt nights for glamping at Under Canvas
Eta Aquarid meteor shower
When: May 5-6
The pieces of debris that interact with our atmosphere to create the Eta Aquarids are from the world’s most famous comet — Halley’s comet. English astronomer Edmund Halley is credited with discovering the comet in 1705, but sightings began centuries before. The comet was also featured in the Bayeux Tapestry in France, dating to 1066. It takes about 76 years for the comet to orbit the sun once.
The last time casual observers saw Halley’s comet was in 1986, but viewers can see the speedy Eta Aquarids peak during early May each year. Viewers can see about 30 Eta Aquarid meteors per hour during their peak.
Meteor showers are usually named after the constellation they appear to come from, which helps viewers determine which shower they are looking at. The Eta Aquarid’s radiant is the constellation Aquarius, the water bearer.
Where to see it
The Southern Hemisphere is better for viewing the Eta Aquarids because Aquarius is higher up in the sky than in the Northern Hemisphere. So, it’s possible to see more meteors per hour.
New Zealand’s Mt Cook Lakeside Retreat (from $3,109 for a two-night stay) is in the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve and offers abundant opportunities for stargazing from an observatory with a retractable roof and a wine cellar.
Perseid meteor shower
When: Aug. 12-13
The plentiful Perseid meteor shower, peaking in mid-August, is considered a must-see for celestial seekers. The Perseids often leave streaks of light and color behind them as they rocket through Earth’s atmosphere. Viewers can see 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Warm summer weather allows skywatchers to view them comfortably at night. The Perseids are also known for impressive fireballs. However, because the moon will be 84% full on the peak night, its light will make all but the brightest meteors hard to see.
Where to see it
The Perseids should be viewed in the Northern Hemisphere during the predawn hours, though meteors from this shower can sometimes be seen as early as 10 p.m.
Although it’s just a 2 1/2-hour drive south of San Francisco, Alila Ventana Big Sur‘s location on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean makes it feel more remote than that. Check into one of its 54 guest rooms or 15 glamping tents for peak Perseid viewing. Rates start at $2,580 or 90,000 World of Hyatt points per night during the peak night of the meteor shower.
Related: Check out these hotels for stellar stays during the Perseid meteor shower
Total lunar eclipse
When: Sept. 7
The second total lunar eclipse of the year shimmers late at night on Sept. 7 into the early morning hours of Sept. 8. As the moon passes through part of the Earth’s umbra, its shadow will fall on the moon’s surface, dimming it and turning it red. Like all blood moons, the moon will be illuminated with a reddish-orange glow.
Where to see it
The eclipse will be visible from Earth’s Eastern Hemisphere, including Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Though September is shoulder season in the Seychelles — another one of TPG’s best places to visit in 2025 — it’s relatively dry. Spend your days scuba diving and then after dinner, head out to the beach to watch the lunar eclipse hit its maximum around 10 p.m. Check in to the new Waldorf Astoria Seychelles Platte Island, which has rates starting at $1,341 or 130,000 Hilton Honors points the night of the eclipse.
Supermoon season
When: Oct. 7, Nov. 5 and Dec. 4
A supermoon happens when a full moon occurs at its closest point (“perigee”) to Earth during its 27-day orbit, making it appear bigger and brighter. Oct. 7 marks the first of three consecutive supermoons. It’s not rare since supermoons cluster when the moon is closest to Earth. However, beholding a supersized moon, let alone three in three months, is a dazzling experience. Supermoons are up to 14% larger and 30% brighter than usual, according to Space.com, and often have a slightly reddish cast.
Many cultures name full moons to mark time passing. Northern Hemisphere names for the first full moon of fall include the Hunter’s Moon; this name dates to 1710 and refers to fall being the season for hunting. On Nov. 5, the oversized Beaver Moon will glow brightly. As the temperatures drop, the Cold Moon or Winter Moon will appear on Dec. 4.
Where to see it
The three supermoons will be visible in the Southern and Northern hemispheres. It should be impressive in North America as long as there’s a clear night sky and viewers are in locations with unobstructed views.
Head to Mexico’s Todos Santos — another of TPG’s best places to travel in 2025 — to escape light pollution at Paradero Todos Santos. Available only during a full moon, the new Power of the Moon package includes an overnight trip on a 46-foot sail catamaran off La Paz’s coast and a night in the hotel’s sky suites with panoramic rooftop views. The package includes an astrology reading and meditation workshop on the boat, plus a traditional temazcal experience and sound bath at the hotel’s Ojo de Agua spa. The package starts at $1,700 per person for the two-night experience.
Orionid meteor shower
When: Oct. 20-21
The Orionids, the second meteor shower of the year to derive from famed Halley’s comet, peak during mid-October each year. Orionid meteors are known for being bright and fast; they speed into Earth’s atmosphere at about 148,000 mph. Fast meteors are likelier to leave glowing trains lasting for several seconds to minutes and fireballs.
When viewing the Orionids, keep your eyes peeled for prolonged explosions of light. The Orionids are also framed by some of the brightest stars in the night sky, lending a sparkly backdrop. Plus, it’s a new moon on the peak night, creating ideal dark sky conditions.
Where to see it
After midnight, the Orionids can be seen in the Northern and Southern hemispheres. Seek out an area away from city and street lights, and come prepared with a sleeping bag or blanket. Lie on your back, feet facing southeast if you are in the Northern Hemisphere or northeast if you are in the Southern Hemisphere, and enjoy the show.
New Mexico’s dark skies and minimal light pollution make it one of the best places in the country for stargazing. In the fall, temperatures are mild during the day — but bundle up for meteor searching at night. El Mistico is a small glamping ranch about 1 1/2 hours north of White Sands National Park. It has two geodesic domes designed for stargazing, with rates starting at $199 per night.
Geminid meteor shower
When: Dec. 13-14
The Geminids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-December each year, is considered one of the most reliable annual meteor showers.
The Geminids first began appearing in the mid-1800s. Since then, they have grown into a significant meteor shower, with 120 Geminid meteors visible per hour under perfect conditions. Most meteor showers originate from comets, but the Geminids come from a parent asteroid, 3200 Phaethon, which takes 1.4 years to orbit the sun once. The yellowish Geminids, which appear to come from the constellation Gemini, or the Twins, are bright and fast. The moon is about 37% full on the peak night of the Geminids, so its light won’t compete too much with the meteors.
Where to see it
The Geminids are visible across the globe from around 9 or 10 p.m.
Near Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon Glamping Resort has new stargazer domes with floor-to-ceiling windows and glass skylights. Each dome is outfitted with air conditioning, heating and a full bathroom. Rates start at $250 per night.
Future event: Total solar eclipse
When: Aug. 12, 2026
Another total solar eclipse won’t occur in the contiguous U.S. until 2044. Those who can’t wait will have the opportunity to see the otherworldly phenomenon again in 2026 if they’re willing to travel. On Aug. 12, 2026, a total solar eclipse with two minutes and 18 seconds of totality will make its way across eastern Greenland, western Iceland, northern Spain and small parts of Portugal and Russia.
In some locations, the eclipse will happen low on the horizon just one hour before sunset, intensifying atmospheric scattering and creating the most epic sunset imaginable. It’s also worth noting that many states in the U.S. will experience a partial solar eclipse.
Where to see it
Western Iceland and northern Spain are the most accessible places in the path of totality. However, northern Spain will provide the best chances for clear skies. Eclipse tours are already planned, so booking early is best. Wilderness Travel offers a five-day tour with prime eclipse viewing with renowned astrophysicist Dr. Alex Filippenko at a hilltop winery outside of the village of Lerma. With a limit of just 120 guests, rates start at $9,495 per person.
Related: Best solar eclipse cruises for 2026
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