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 Chariot, can be seen very close to the zenith, appearing at sunset. It moves towards the west to set in the north west at dawn and appears higher each night. It’s brightest star is Capella, one point of the Winter Hexagon.
Leo, the Lion, rises in the north east a little after sunset. As the month goes on, it rises later in the evening, so best views will be at the beginning of the month when it reaches its highest point earlier. Leo moves higher towards the southern sky to disappear in the west at dawn. It’s brightest star is Regulus. Look for it by finding the Sickle asterism.
Hydra, the Snake, is the largest constellation in the sky. It can be seen rising in the east around 20:30 GMT, but is only fully visible from the early hours of the morning onwards. Hydra stays low on the southern horizon and sets just before sunrise in the southwest.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. Mercury reaches aphelion on the 6th, and superior solar conjunction on the 21st.
Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. Venus reaches superior solar conjunction on the 6th, and aphelion on the 22nd.
Mars is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. Mars reaches solar conjunction on the 9th.
Jupiter appears low in the east at sunset, moving across the south to set in the north west around dawn. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 3rd and the 31st. It reaches perigee on the 9th and opposition on the 10th.
Saturn appears in the south at sunset, setting early in the evening in the west. Best views will be earlier in the month as Saturn sets later and is visible for longer. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 23rd.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen beneath the Pleiades this month, appearing in the east at sunset. It moves across the sky to set in the west just before dawn. Uranus reaches its highest point around 21:00 GMT at the beginning of the month, and around 19:00 at the end. Uranus ends retrograde motion on the 30th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It stays very close to Saturn this month and follows the same path across the sky.
Meteor Showers
The Quadrantids reach their peak on the 3rd. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors is in the constellation of Boötes. Meteors will be visible all night because this constellation stays above the horizon all night. Best displays are likely to be around peak activity at 23:00 GMT, or just before sunrise as Boötes reaches its highest point in the morning. You will be able to see up to 117 meteors per hour.
The γ-Ursae Minorids reach their peak on the 19th. The radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Ursa Minor. Meteors will be visible all night as Ursa Minor is a circumpolar constellation. Peak activity and the highest point of the radiant both occur after dawn, so best displays are likely to be just before sunrise. You will be able to see up to 2 meteors per hour.
Moon
Full Moon: 3rd
Last Quarter: 10th
New Moon: 18th
First Quarter: 26th
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 1st and the 29th and apogee, its furthest point on the 13th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will be at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 3rd and perihelion, its closest point, on the 17th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon makes a close approach with the Beehive Cluster (M44) on the 5th. Visible from 19:50 GMT until sunrise, the pair reach their highest point around 01:43 GMT. You will need binoculars to see this, but the distance is too great to fit in the field of view of a telescope.
The Moon makes a close approach of the Pleiades (M45) on the 27th. Visible between 17:32 and 02:02 GMT, the pair reach their highest point around 19:21 GMT. This event is visible with the naked eye, but close enough to fit in the field of view of binoculars.
Points of Interest
Asteroid 40 Harmonia will be at opposition on the 2nd. In the constellation of Gemini, it will reach its highest point around midnight and is visible between 18:30 and 05:44 GMT. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
The Earth will be at perihelion on the 3rd.
Comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches perigee on the 4th, peak brightness on the 7th, and perihelion on the 8th. It can be seen in the constellation of Virgo in the morning sky. You will need at least a 4-inch telescope to see this.
The open star cluster Messier 47 will be well placed for observation in the coming weeks, beginning on the 15th. It can be found in the constellation of Puppis and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. It is visible between 21:52 and 02:01 GMT. You will need binoculars to see this.
The spiral galaxy NGC 2403 will be well placed for observation in the coming weeks, beginning on the 15th. It can be found in the constellation of Camelopardalis and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight. Camelopardalis is circumpolar, so it can be seen all night. You will need a large telescope to see this.
Asteroid 44 Nysa reaches opposition on the 23rd. Visible between 19:04 and 05:24 GMT, it lies in the constellation of Cancer and reaches its highest point in the sky around midnight.
The Beehive cluster will be well placed for observation in the coming weeks, beginning on the 31st. It is visible from 18:07 GMT onwards and reaches its highest point in the sky in 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: 13th November 2025.