Venus Moon duo and Quadrantids meteors stun stargazers – BBC.com
Stargazers around the globe were treated to a stunning celestial scene on Friday as Venus appeared shining brightly above a crescent Moon.The planet was visible to the naked eye from the UK to the US, Turkey and China.Venus is often called the Evening Star or Morning Star because, when it is prominent, it appears like the brightest “star” in the sky.More astronomical delights are expected this new year, as January 2025 is going to be a good month to spot both Venus and Saturn. Make sure to take a look up into the sky on 18 January, as those planets will be appear just 2.2° apart.Stargazers may also be able to spot shooting stars blazing across the skies, as the Quadrantid meteor shower continues.This shower, which is expected to peak on Saturday, has been visible since 26 December and will continue until 12 January.Dr Robert Massey, deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society in the UK, said observers hoping to catch a glimpse of the celestial fireworks after sunset will need to get “as far away from light pollution as possible”.”If you have the time to look out and the weather is good, then do take a look because it’s a perfect new year treat.”Scientists hope the probe can help us better understand how the Sun works.Many stars in our galaxy exist in pairs. Now scientists are finding clues that our Sun may once have had a companion of its own. The question is, where did it go?The hope is the probe could help us to better understand how the Sun works.
The Geminids are an astronomical highlight of the year, creating a spectacular show of shooting stars every December. Scientists are now starting to understand where they came from.Nick Hewitt hopes the Geminid meteor shower will inspire more of us to discover the night sky’s wonders.Copyright 2025 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
