Woking Planetarium

Read our January sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!

Map

Constellations

These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.

Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation, so can be seen all night. At sunset it appears in the north, near the zenith. It lowers as the night goes on, moving across the northern sky before disappearing at dawn.

Perseus appears at the zenith at sunset. It circles down towards the north west over the course of the night, and disappears on the northern horizon at sunrise.

Gemini is a zodiacal constellation visible in the east just after sunset. It moves across the southern sky during the night before setting in the west at dawn.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It’s highest altitude in morning sky will be on the 6^th at just 11°. Mercury will be at dichotomy (half-phase) on the 7^th, and greatest elongation west on the 12^th.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be readily seen. It rises just before the Sun on the south eastern horizon and may be visible with a clear horizon at the beginning of the month. Venus will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 8^th.

Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.

Jupiter appears in the south eastern sky at sunset near the beginning of the month. It follows a path across the southern sky, appearing more southerly as the month goes on. It then sets in the west in the early hours of the morning. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 18^th.

Saturn appears low on the south western horizon at sunset. It can be seen in the evening for a couple of hours at the beginning of the month before setting in the west. It will be harder to see as time goes on as it appears lower in the sky. Saturn will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 14^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears in the south east at sunset and moves across the southern sky to set in the west in the early hours of the morning. Uranus ends retrograde motion on the 27^th.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It appears low in the south west sky for a couple of hours before setting. Neptune will undergo lunar occultation on the 15^th.

Meteor Showers

The Quadrantids reach their peak on the 4^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Boötes. As this constellation is circumpolar, meteors are visible all night. Best displays will be just before dawn, as Boötes is highest in the sky after sunrise. You will be able to see up to 118 meteors per hour.

The γ-Ursae Minorids reach their peak on the 19^th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Ursa Minor. As this constellation is circumpolar, meteors are visible all night. Best displays will be just before dawn, as Ursa Minor is highest in the sky after sunrise. You will be able to see up to 2 meteors per hour.

Moon

Last Quarter: 4^th

New Moon: 11^th

First Quarter: 18^th

Full Moon: 25^th

The Moon is at perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 13^th, and apogee, its furthest point from the Earth on the 1^st. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon is at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun on the 27^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will have a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 20^th. They will be visible around sunset at 17:25 GMT above the south eastern horizon until 02:31 GMT. Best displays will be at 19:50 GMT when M45 is at it’s highest point in the sky.

Points of Interest

The cluster Messier 47 is well placed on the 15^th, when it reaches its highest point in the sky in the constellation of Puppis. It is visible between 21:58 and 02:07 GMT, but best displays are around midnight. You will need binoculars to observe this.

The spiral galaxy NGC 2403 is well placed on the 15^th. It is located in the constellation of Camelopardalis and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. It is high above the horizon all night. You will need a large telescope to observe this.

Asteroid 354 Eleonora is at opposition on the 20^th. It is in the constellation of Canis Minor and visible between 19:29 and 04:20 GMT. Best displays will be at 23:54 when Canis Minor is at its highest point in the sky. You will need a 4-inch telescope to observe this.

The Beehive Cluster (M44, NGC 2632) is well placed on the 31^st. It is visible between 18:10 and 05:57 GMT in the constellation of Cancer. Best displays will be around midnight when it is at its highest point. You will need binoculars to observe this.

Visit Spot the Station to find out when the ISS will be visible from your location.

Last updated: 28^th January.