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Weekly Stargazing Tips
Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii). Check out last week's tips or the Sky Almanac if you missed a night.
January 6, 2009
The story of Jason and the Argonauts is retold in the remains of the constellation Argo Navis, which has been split into four constellations in modern times. Parts of these constellations are visible low in the south on winter evenings.
January 7, 2009
Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, rises in the southeast in early evening and climbs across the south during the night. It looks so bright in part because it is one of our closest stellar neighbors, at a distance of just 8.6 light-years.
January 8, 2009
Look toward the northeast during late evening for the Big Dipper. The handle points toward the horizon, with the bowl high in the sky. The second star from the end of the handle is called Mizar. If you look carefully, you might see its faint companion, Alcor.
January 9, 2009
The stars of winter are brighter than those of the other seasons. Winter skies feature constellations like Orion, Taurus, Gemini, and Canis Major, which are home to the brightest stars in the night sky.
January 10, 2009
The two brightest stars in the night sky scoot across the south late tonight. Sirius stands high in the sky in late evening. Canopus is far below Sirius, though you have to be at the latitude of Dallas or points southward to see it.
January 11, 2009
The planet Venus, which is the dazzling "evening star," stands farthest from the Sun over the next few nights. It is well up in the southwest at nightfall and doesn't set until 9 or 9:30 p.m. It far outshines everything else in the night sky except the Moon.
January 12, 2009
Leo's brightest star, Regulus, is a little below the Moon as they rise in mid evening. The rest of Leo spreads out below and to the left of Regulus, which is at the tip of a pattern of stars that looks like a backwards question mark, known as the Sickle.
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