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January 2005
The bright constellations of the Orion family shine high after dinnertime these icy nights. Orion himself strides high across the southeast. Floating above him is Taurus, marked by Aldebaran and the Pleiades. Brilliant Sirius sparkles far below Orion in Canis Major. The Gemini twins, adorned this year by bright Saturn glowing just below them, lie far to Orion's left.

1 Earth is at perihelion, its closest to the Sun for the year -- just three percent closer than at aphelion in July.

3 Before dawn this morning, the Moon shines high in the south with bright Jupiter to its left. Look to the lower left of Jupiter for fainter Spica.

4 Before and during dawn, Jupiter shines to the upper right of the Moon. Fainter Spica is much closer to the Moon; use binoculars to find it.

7 As dawn begins to brighten, look low in the southeast for the waning crescent Moon. Mars is to its left or upper left; similarly colored Antares is to its lower left. Far to their lower left, near the horizon, look for Venus and fainter Mercury very close together (just 0.9 degree apart).

8 About 45 minutes before sunrise, look for the thin crescent Moon just above the southeast horizon. Venus and faint Mercury are very close together (0.8 degree) to the Moon's left, by about a fist-width at arm's length. Use binoculars to pick them out.

10 The Moon is at perigee, its closest to Earth for the month. Whenever perigee comes at or shortly after new or full Moon, coastal areas get unusually high and low tides ("perigean spring tides").

12 Venus and Mercury appear close together in the dawn this morning and tomorrow morning, one-third of a degree apart. About 45 minutes before sunrise, use binoculars to look for them low above the southeast horizon.

13 As twilight fades this evening, look lower left of the Moon (by about two fist-widths at arm's length) to catch Fomalhaut, the "autumn star" on its way out for the season.

Saturn is at opposition, meaning it is opposite the Sun in our sky. It rises in the east around sunset, is highest in the middle of the night, and sets around sunrise. It looks like a bright golden star.

20 The Moon shines high above Orion this evening. Look for orange Aldebaran to the Moon's lower right in early evening, by about a fist-width at arm's length. Aldebaran is directly below the Moon later at night.

21 In early evening, the Moon shines between Orion (to its lower right) and bright Capella (to.its upper left). Saturn is the bright point glowing far to the Moon's lower left. Procyon sparkles to Saturn's lower right, just a bit dimmer.

22 Look for Saturn below the Moon this evening. Fainter Pollux and Castor, the "twin" stars of Gemini, are to Saturn's upper left. Procyon is farther to Saturn's lower right.

23 The bright "star" shining near the Moon tonight is the planet Saturn. Fainter Pollux and Castor are also in the Moon's vicinity.

The Moon is at apogee.

24 Saturn shines to the Moon's upper right this evening. More directly above the Moon are fainter Pollux and Castor. Procyon is farther right of the Moon.

2S Full Moon, called the Wolf Moon.

26 After the Moon rises in mid-evening, look to its lower right for Regulus, the brightest star of Leo.

30 By midnight tonight, the waning Moon is up in the east with bright Jupiter shining very close to it, making a striking pair! Look for fainter Spica below them. All three cross the sky together until dawn.