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.

Auriga the Charioteer is visible in the east at sunset and moves high across the southern sky during the night. Best views will be late in the evening when it is at its highest point due south. Its brightest star is Capella, one of the brightest stars in the sky.

Gemini the Twins can be seen in the east at sunset. It appears higher later in the month, so can be better seen in the early evening near the end of the month. It moves across the southern sky during the night, with its highest point in the late evening. The heads on the twins are formed by the stars Castor and Pollux.

Pisces appears high in the south at sunset and sets in the west in the middle of the night. It appears higher at the beginning of the month. Best views will be just after sunset when it is at its highest. At the end of the month, Venus will lie in this constellation.

Planets

Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be a its furthest point from the Sun, aphelion, on the 19^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Venus can be seen low on the western horizon in the early evening. It sets around 19:00 GMT, so best views are just after sunset when it is at its highest. Venus will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 3^rd and conjunction with Saturn on the 20^th. It will be at greatest eastern elongation on the 10^th, and dichotomy (half-phase) on the 12^th.

Mars rises in the east at sunset and can be seen all night. It moves across the southern sky to the west around sunrise. At the beginning of the month its highest point is around midnight, but at the end of the month it is around 21:00 GMT so is easier to see. Mars reaches its closest point to the Earth, perigee, on the 12^th, lunar occultation on the 14^th, and opposition on the 16^th.

Jupiter appears in the south east at sunset and moves towards the south. It sets in the west in the early morning. Best views will be at the end of the month, when its highest point is earlier in the evening. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 10^th.

Saturn appears low in the west at sunset, setting quickly in the evening. Best views will be immediately after sunset. It will undergo lunar occultation on the 4^th, and be in conjunction with Venus on the 20^th.

Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. At the beginning of the month, it appears in the southern sky, and at the end of the month it appears further to the east. Uranus moves across the southern sky to set in the west during the night, and will be visible for longer each night as the month goes on. It ends retrograde motion on the 30^th.

Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen near Saturn and Venus this month, appearing low in the west at sunset and setting quickly after. Neptune will undergo lunar occultation on the 5^th.

Meteor Showers

The background rate of meteors on any given night is about 4 per hour.

The Quadrantids reach their peak on the night of the 3^rd. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Bootes. As the radiant point is circumpolar, meteors will be visible all night. Bootes is highest in the sky after sunrise, but peak activity is reached about 16:00 GMT, so best views will be either just after sunset or just before sunrise. You will be able to see up to 117 meteors per hour.

Moon

Full Moon: 13^th

Last Quarter: 21^st

New Moon: 29^th

First Quarter: 6^th

The Moon reaches apogee, its furthest point from the Earth, on the 21^st and perigee, its closest point, on the 8^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 14^th and perihelion, its closest point, on the 28^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 10^th. They will be visible between 17:12 and 03:07 GMT, reaching their highest point around 20:27 GMT in the south. Both objects lie in the constellation of Taurus. They are visible with the naked eye, but also close enough to fit in the field of view of a telescope.

Points of Interest

Asteroid 14 Irene reaches opposition on the 3^rd. Lying in the constellation of Gemini, it reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. It will be visible between 18:15 and 06:01 GMT. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see this.

The Earth will be at perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 4^th. This effect is not visually apparent.

Asteroid 887 Alinda will be at opposition on the 13^th. Visible between 17:46 and 05:25 GMT, it will be in the constellation of Gemini and reach its highest point in the sky around midnight. You will need at least a four-inch telescope to see this.

The cluster Messier 47 is well placed for observation on the 14^th. It will lie in the constellation of Puppis and reaches its highest point around midnight. It is visible between 21:59 and 02:08 GMT. You will need binoculars to see this.

The spiral galaxy NGC 2403 will be well placed for observation on the 14^th, high above the horizon all night. It reaches its highest point around midnight, close to the celestial pole in the constellation of Camelopardalis. You will need a large telescope to see this.

The Beehive Cluster will be well placed for observation on the 30^th. It is visible between 18:10 and 05:58 GMT, reaching its highest point in the sky around midnight. You will need binoculars to see this.

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

Last updated: 6^th December 2024.