What to look for:
Two combinations, winter stars, and a comet! The Moon and numerous worlds have close encounters, a brand-new comet beautifies morning skies, and the stars of Northern Hemisphere winter season dazzle.
Video Transcript:.
Whats Up for January? The planets have some close encounters, the brilliant stars of winter, and a chance to capture a comet.
January 2nd discovers the Moon and Mars high in the southeast after sundown, in a charming grouping with the Pleiades and Aldebaran. From about January 18th to the 24th, see Venus cross paths with Saturn as the radiance of sundown fades. And on January 25th, looking to the southwest 30-45 minutes after sundown, look high above Venus and Saturn to find the Moon just a degree apart from Jupiter, about midway up the sky.
January nights are filled with intense stars. Looking toward the south or southeast in the very first few hours after dark, youll spy the bright constellations of winter season in the Northern Hemisphere: Of course, theres Orion the hunter; the big pet dog constellation Canis Major; and the lesser-known little dog, Canis Minor with its bright star Procyon. Y-shaped Taurus, the bull, includes the intense Hyades and Pleiades star clusters. And simply east of Orion, youll find the brilliant stars Castor and Pollux, which form the heads of the twins in Gemini. Make sure you take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the January sky, which more than satisfies the meaning of “star-studded,” with so much to marvel at.
A just recently found comet is now going through the inner planetary system and needs to be noticeable with a telescope and most likely with field glasses. The comet, which has a mouthful of a name– C/2022 E3 (ZTF)– was very first spotted in March last year, when it was currently inside the orbit of Jupiter. It makes its closest technique to the Sun on January 12, and after that passes its closest to Earth on February 2.
Comets are notoriously unpredictable, however if this one continues its existing pattern in brightness, itll be easy to spot with field glasses, and its simply possible it might become noticeable to the unaided eye under dark skies.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will discover the comet in the early morning sky, as it moves swiftly towards the northwest throughout January. This comet isnt anticipated to be rather the phenomenon that Comet NEOWISE was back in 2020.
The stages of the Moon for January 2023. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
Stay up to date with all of NASAs missions to explore the planetary system and beyond at nasa.gov. Im Preston Dyches from NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and thats Whats Up for this month.
All month– Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is observable with field glasses or a little telescope in the predawn sky for Northern Hemisphere observers. It works its method quickly throughout the northern sky throughout the month. (Check your preferred skywatching app for the comets position on the date youre observing.).
All month– The January sky is filled with brilliant stars in the constellations Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Canis major, and Canis small. Find these cosmic gems by looking toward the southeast in the very first few hours after it gets dark.
January 2– After sunset, discover the Moon and Mars high in the southeast, in a beautiful organizing with the Pleiades and Aldebaran.
January 6– Full moon.
January 18-24– Watch Venus cross courses with Saturn over numerous days after sunset. Try to find the pair low in the southwest about 45 minutes after the Sun dips listed below the horizon.
January 21– New moon.
January 22– Venus and Saturn are super close together in the sky after sunset. Theyll appear only a 3rd of a degree apart– thats a 3rd of the width of your forefinger held at arms length. Look for the set low in the southwest about 45 minutes after the Sun dips below the horizon.
January 23– Venus and Saturn are just a degree apart in the sky– the width of your forefinger held at arms length. The slim crescent Moon hangs just above them tonight. Search for the trio low in the southwest about 45 minutes after the Sun dips listed below the horizon.
January 25– Look to the southwest 30-45 minutes after sundown to discover the Moon only a degree apart from Jupiter, about halfway up the sky.
January 12– Recently discovered comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is at its closest to the Sun today, and will pass Earth at a distance of 26.4 million miles (42.5 million km) on Feb. 2. The comet is visible with binoculars or a small telescope in the predawn sky.
What are some skywatching highlights in January 2023?
Some beautiful groupings this month include the Moon with Mars, and later on with Jupiter, and a close conjunction of Venus and Saturn. The fantastic stars of the Northern Hemispheres winter sky are a spectacular sight all month long. And a comet discovered last March makes its closest method to Earth in January, gracing pre-dawn skies.
January 22– Venus and Saturn are extremely close together in the sky after sunset. January 23– Venus and Saturn are just a degree apart in the sky– the width of your index finger held at arms length. And on January 25th, looking to the southwest 30-45 minutes after sunset, look high above Venus and Saturn to discover the Moon just a degree apart from Jupiter, about midway up the sky.
Observers in the Northern Hemisphere will discover the comet in the early morning sky, as it moves promptly toward the northwest throughout January.
And a comet discovered last March makes its closest approach to Earth in January, beautifying pre-dawn skies.