Each Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also applies to northern hemisphere mid-northern latitudes). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: Feb. 24-March 2, 2025
From classic post-sunset views of the crescent moon tangling with Venus to “Earthshine” on its dark limb — as well as dark evening skies perfect for seeing the Northern Lights — here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Thursday, Feb. 27: New Moon
At 7:45 p.m. EST, today is the best time of the month for anyone interested in the night sky. The new moon phase sees our natural satellite roughly between the Earth and the sun, making the moon invisible but the night skies free from moonlight. That makes tonight the very best of the month for stargazing, though the entire week is near-perfect beforehand (and a few days after) is perfect. Now prepare for some stunning post-sunset views of the crescent moon and Venus!
Friday, Feb. 28: First Sighting Of The Crescent Moon
Here’s a challenging observation. Look west after sunset to see a super-slim 1.1%-lit crescent moon. It will be positioned between Saturn, below, and Mericry, above. You’ll probably need binoculars and a blend of patience and speed because all of these celestial bodies will sink under the western horizon soon after sunset.
Saturday, Mar. 1: Crescent Moon And Venus
Now 6%-lit, the waxing crescent moon will be more easily visible in the western sky after sunset tonight. Venus will be above, shining at a brilliant -4.8.
Sunday, Mar. 2: Crescent Moon, Earthshine And Venus
A brightening 12%-lit waxing crescent moon will be visible in the west sky just after sunset. Its dark limb will display “Earthshine” — sunlight reflected from our planet’s oceans and ice caps onto the lunar surface. It’s just strong enough to illuminate the moon’s limb subtly. Venus will be below the moon tonight, shining at a brilliant -4.8.
Celestial Sight Of The Week: Northern Lights
As the moon leaves the early evening night sky, preparing for aurora displays is wise. The 10 nights after every last quarter moon are dark, and if you head away from urban light pollution, there’s a chance to see wondrous displays as the sun continues in its “solar maximum” phase throughout 2025. If you can’t escape an urban area, ensure there are no bright lights in your field of view, particularly to the north, where displays are most likely.
This is peak time for the Northern Lights, but keep an eye on my page for the latest forecasts for North America and beyond. You’ll be the first to know if there’s an “extreme” geomagnetic storm — as there was in 2024.
Aurora borealis — the scientific name for the phenomenon — is Latin for “northern dawn.” Galileo Galilei coined the term in 1616, who lived in Italy, where the phenomenon is almost always glimpsed in the northern sky, so it could be mistaken for dawn. “Northern Lights” is the traditional name of the Arctic Circle.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
