Browse Astronomy 2008+ Newer > Astronomy
Browse Astronomy Archives > Astronomy
January 2005 Skies
January 04 , 2005 by George MuncasterBy day, the January SUN continues moving slowly higher in the sky.
By night all prominent Winter stars and constellations are positioned for excellent viewing.
January also brings favorable positioning of the Winter Milky Way, newly discovered Comet Macholtz and (weather permitting) the Quadrantid Meteor Shower.
The Sun begins the New Year in the constellation of SAGITTARIUS. It remains in Sagittarius until January 19th, when it enters CAPRICORNUS for the rest of the month.
The Evening Sky
Sunset on January 1st occurs at 5:25p.m., and each following evening’s sunset happens a bit later. On January 31st, the time of sunset will be 5:53p.m.
The MOON begins the year six days past Full in the constellation of LEO. January’s NEW MOON occurs shortly before sunrise on the 10th in the constellation of Sagittarius.
The waxing MOON is visible in the evening sky between January 11th and the 25th.. It will also be visible when rising after sunset for a few days the 25th.
On the evening of the 11th, look at about 6:15pm. for a thin crescent Moon low in the Southwestern sky.
About 1a.m. on January 25th the moon will be FULL, riding high in the winter sky and shining all night in CANCER, the Zodiac constellation of the crab.
Evening Planets SATURN. (Later in the month: JUPITER.)
Early January’s only evening planet is SATURN, found in GEMINI.
Saturn rises shortly after sunset on the 1st, and about 1½ hours earlier by month end. It remains in the constellation of GEMINI all month. On January 13th, Saturn stands in Opposition to the Sun (rising exactly at sunset). That night the ringed planet remains above the horizon all night. On the 24th, look for Saturn in the East near the (almost) Full Moon.
Saturn is joined in the evening sky by Jupiter on January 19th, when the giant planet first rises just before midnight, earning the title of evening planet. Jupiter will be found in VIRGO throughout the month.
What Else to See? The Winter Milky Way and Comet Machholtz
During January be sure to choose a dark night with no moon and view the Winter Milky Way and the newly discovered Comet Machholtz.
The Winter Milky Way contains the constellations of CASSIOPEIA, PERSEUS, AURIGA, GEMINI, ORION, CANIS MAJOR, MONOCEROS, and PUPPIS. If viewing from dark sky locations, use a pair of binoculars to discover many star clusters spread irregularly along the Milky Way.
To the South, we find easily recognizable Orion, which rises before sunset. The famous “Great Nebula” (AKA “M42”) seen as the middle “star” in the “sword” hanging below the 3 prominent Belt stars is actually a huge cluster of still forming stars. Follow the line of Orion’s Belt upward to the red star Aldebaran in Taurus and to the Pleiades. Look below Orion’s Belt to Sirius, the brightest star in our sky in the constellation of Canis Major. Directly below Sirius is the compact star cluster M41. To the left of Orion are found Gemini, with bright stars Castor and Pollux and the planet Saturn. In the upper foot of Gemini is the star cluster M35.
To the North, the Winter Milky Way extends into Auriga, Perseus and Cassiopeia. A pair of binoculars or small telescope reveals the compact star clusters M37 & M38 in Auriga, and the famous “Double Cluster” midway between Cassiopeia and Perseus).
Comet Machholtz. A relatively bright (3rd Magnitude) comet graces our skies this month. Comet Machholtz has slowly climbed up the western half of Orion and will be closest to the Earth in mid-January. From a dark location it is easily visible as a distinctly fuzzy ball of light to the naked eye. A small pair of binoculars will show it quickly even from bright sky locations! Also look for the comet’s short tail pointing away from the Sun. Since the comet moves an appreciable amount every day, visit here to view a map showing the comet’s location during January.
The Morning Sky
Above, we noted January’s sunsets occur later each evening. But, does this mean sunrises occur earlier each day? Not EXACTLY!
Earth’s slightly elliptical (non-circular) orbit around the Sun combines with Arizona’s location in the Northern Hemisphere to cause January sunrises all to happen at about the same time of day! Sunrise on New Year’s Day occurs at 7:35 a.m. However, the latest sunrise of the year is yet to come -- at 7:37a.m. on January 7th and 8th. Even by the 31st, sunrise happens only 11 minutes earlier, at 7:28a.m.!
The waning MOON is visible in the morning sky through January 9th and again after Full Moon between the 25th and the 31st. On the mornings of January 3rd, 4th and the 30th look for a nearly 3rd Quarter Moon near JUPITER. The Moon will be close to Mars, Antares, and several of the brighter stars in Scorpio on the morning of the 7th. The next morning (January 8th) look for a very thin crescent Moon to the right (South) of Mercury and Venus.
Morning Planets: MERCURY, VENUS, MARS, and (early in January) JUPITER.
MERCURY and VENUS rise together more than 1½ hours before the Sun in OPHIUCHUS on the 1st, when they will be most easily visible in a dark sky just before dawn. To best find Mercury, first find the much brighter planet VENUS. For the first 3 weeks of the year, Mercury dances a tight loop around Venus in the sky. From the 11th through the 14th, they appear closer together than the Moon’s diameter. Binoculars should aid viewing this unusually close conjunction, but early in the month both planets will be easily visible in a dark sky to the unaided eye. However, since both planets are moving toward the Sun, by the 20th, Mercury will probably be very difficult to see in a dawn sky.
MARS greets 2005 low in the Eastern sky in SCORPIO. The Greeks called this red planet “ARES” and named the similarly colored star in the Zodiac Scorpion’s heart “ANTARES” (counterpart of Ares). Mars passes by Antares about every two years and will do so again this month. Usually, we notice Mars when it is very bright (about magnitude –2) in the sky. However, when positioned on the opposite side of the Sun from the Earth, Mars is a much fainter and less noticeable “star” of about 1st magnitude. Thus, Mars and Antares form impressive twins at about the same brightness this month and should be easy to see even when low in the sky. During January, Mars passes Antares from West to East as Scorpio rises earlier each day and Mars’ motion lags the stars. By month end, Mars rises an hour earlier, at 4:30 a.m. and has moved eastward almost into Sagittarius as the Sun moves into Capricornus.
What Else to See? Some Moon-Planet close approaches (“conjunctions”) are mentioned above. But observers with binoculars or small telescopes may want to watch the Moon occult (eclipse) or approach very close to stars of 6th magnitude or brighter on the mornings of January 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 8th, 21st, 22nd, and 24th and on the evenings of January 2nd, 18th, 19th, and 24th. A listing and additional details of several such events may be found here.
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower, an annual event, appears early in the month with meteors appearing to originate from the constellation of DRACO the dragon. These meteors are the dusty remnants of a long-dead comet (now a tail-less asteroid) whose orbit debris intersects the Earth’s orbit for a few hours each year. Most years this shower is not easily observed from Arizona. Although it is very well placed for Arizona viewing in 2005, January weather may not cooperate! If it is clear in the morning hours of January 4th, be prompt, as this is a short duration event!
The shower’s peak occurs between around midnight and 4a.m. on the morning of January 4th, and the waning Moon rises too late to spoil the show! At the shower’s peak, perhaps 40 - 60 meteors per hour (1 per minute) can be seen by observers in a dark location. Meteor shower observers should download a star chart, then plan to stay warm and comfortable while observing. A pool lounge chair with an adjustable back would be ideal. Face in a direction with no visible streetlights, etc. for best results. Even though the meteors radiate from the head of Draco, some can be seen looking in any direction in the sky.
On Friday, January 14th beginning at 6:00p.m., the East Valley Astronomy Club will be hosting a Free Public Star Party at their observatory site East of the Gilbert Public Library. Several telescopes will be available for public viewing of wintertime astronomical objects. The Club will also present an astronomy lecture at 8:00 p.m. inside the Library. Admission to the lecture is $3.
Good Luck Observing!
Helpful Internet Astronomy Resources for December:
Free January Star Map
Astronomy Dictionary/Glossary
Sky and Telescope Magazine online (comet, meteor shower & more information)
East Valley Astronomy Club
George Muncaster is Principal at Systems Synergies LLC, a systems engineering firm serving the wireless community and aerospace-defense communities. He teaches astronomy at Glendale Community College and at Scottsdale Community College and also astronomy distance learning classes at Rio Salado College.
George Muncaster is a regularly featured contributor whose articles are regularly featured under Astronomy.
