Treated to the surprise Camelopardalids meteor shower, a partial solar eclipse and Comet Lovejoy’s travel through the constellation Orion – 2014 was a busy year for London’s astronomers. But 2015 will have amazing sights and can also be a fun year for you.

Making 2015 the year to get out and explore the world more, amateur astronomy is a great place to start. Before highlighting 2015’s major astronomical events, we first need to define some terms before the fun can start:

Objects seen are measured in degrees away from each other, when looking in the sky:

1° is about the width of your finger when extended fully away from your body.

5° is your entire hand closed, palm facing the sky and your arm extended

10° is your fingers spread out while your arm is still extended.

A conjunction occurs when celestial bodies orbits arrange so that multiple objects reach close viewing proximity. While in reality the objects are still cosmic distances from each other, the viewer measures these objects in the above-mentioned degrees.

Objects in opposition are at furthest possible distances from each other, making planets easiest to see in the night/pre-dawn sky.

Meteor showers are named for what constellation in the night sky the original showers emanated from.

While events mentioned will be viewable with the naked eye, having a pair of binoculars or a small telescope can do wonders for viewing. Bring a notebook and pens for recording observations also. Another tip – get away from all lights if possible. Having friends willing to drive into the country with you is the best way for viewing the cosmos in its beauty. And be prepared for the cold, as many of these events occur a few hours before dawn-so bundle up.

• February 6 sees Jupiter at opposition with the Earth, rising in the east. If using binoculars, the four Galilean moons Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto will be visible.

• Just after sunset on February 22 our closest planets — Venus and Mars — will be in conjunction. Both rising from the northeast horizon, they will be less than 1° apart.

• Along with London, North and South America, Pacifica and Australasia will witness a total lunar eclipse April 4, where the moon enters Earth’s shadow, also known as umbra. The umbral phase will last close to five minutes, during which the moon gains a deep blood red hue.

• Peaking April 22 to 23, the Lyrids meteor shower will be the third most visible shower, as the quarter phase moon will set just after midnight.

• A rare event in July – two full moons resulting in a blue moon on July 31.

• Another top meteor shower of the year, the Perseids will rain down July 17 to August 24, peaking August 12 to 13. With a thin crescent moon, more 60 viewings per hour are expected.

• The final lunar eclipse of 2015 occurs September 28, lasting roughly an hour.

• The Orionids peak October 21 to 22, with the moon – in first quarter – setting just after midnight, removing background light.

• On October 25, sky viewers will see the planets Venus and Jupiter – the two brightest planets in our sky – in a 1°conjunction in the predawn eastern sky, a picture perfect event.

• Another predawn conjunction, this time between the moon and Venus, will see the two passing within 2° of each other in the eastern sky December 7.

• The greatest meteor shower of the year will also end it the year’s list. Peaking December 13 to 14 are the Geminids. The crescent moon will set before 8 p.m. each night, so be prepared for more than 100 events per hour, spectacular viewing.

So get out there, even if you can’t make it out during one of these events or clouds ruin a night, there are always individual planets that can be seen with the naked eye. Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and our own moon, everyday random shooting stars and the increasing number of human satellites in orbit – the sheer amount look for in the night skies is mindboggling. But, it can also be beautiful.