The Venus Moon duo and Quadrantids meteors amaze astronomers.

grey placeholderPA Media Over Whitley Bay, England, the luminous crescent moon shines with Venus to the right.PA Media

Over Whitley Bay, England, the luminous crescent moon shines with Venus to the right.

Stargazers around the world were treated to an incredible celestial spectacle on Friday as Venus shined brightly above the crescent Moon.

The planet was visible to the naked eye from the UK to the US, Türkiye and China.

Venus is often called the evening star or morning star because when it is visible, it appears to be the brightest “star” in the sky.

Expect more astronomical fun this new year, as January 2025 will be a great month to spot both Venus and Saturn. Don’t forget to look up at the sky on January 18th. This is because the two planets will be visible just 2.2° apart.

grey placeholderReuters A crescent moon and Venus rest on a cross atop the Quebec Baptist Church in Ellaville, Georgia.Reuters

A crescent moon and the planet Venus rest atop a cross atop the Quebec Baptist Church in Ellaville, Georgia.

grey placeholderGetty The Moon and Venus are visible together next to the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, the capital of Turkey.getty

The Moon and Venus are visible together next to the Kocatepe Mosque in Ankara, the capital of Türkiye.

Stargazers may also spot shooting stars blazing across the sky. quadrant meteor shower It continues.

The showers, which are expected to peak on Saturday, will be visible from December 26 and will continue until January 12.

Observers hoping to catch a glimpse of the celestial fireworks after sunset should go “as far away from light pollution as possible,” said Dr Robert Massey, vice-president of the Royal Astronomical Society.

“If you have time to look outside and the weather is nice, check it out. It’s the perfect New Year’s gift.”

grey placeholderGetty Images Venus appears next to the crescent moon in the night sky of Kolkata, India.getty images

Venus appears next to the crescent moon in the night sky of Kolkata, India.

grey placeholderGetty Images A quadrant meteor shower was observed in the night sky over the Great Wall of China in Beijing, China, on January 4, 2025.getty images

On January 4, 2025, a quadrant meteor shower was observed in the night sky of the Great Wall of China in Beijing.