THE SOUTHWORTH PLANETARIUM

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43.6667° N    70.2667° W  Altitude:  10 feet below sea level Founded January 1970

2021-2022: LIX

"The Universe can take quite a while to deliver."

-Desmond Tutu

THE DAILY ASTRONOMER

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

January 2022 Night Sky Calendar Part III

TUESDAY, JANUARY 25: LAST QUARTER MOON

FRIDAY, JANUARY 28: MOON NEAR ANTARES

The waning crescent moon (12% illuminated) passes near Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius the Scorpion. We know that the moon can appear to pass close to the planets because they, like the moon, travel along a band centered on the ecliptic, the Sun's annual path through the sky. Four bright (first magnitude) stars are also close to the ecliptic and will appear to pass close to the moon, as well. These stars are: Aldebaran (in Taurus the Bull), Antares (in Scorpius the Scorpion), Regulus (in Leo the Lion) and Spice (in Virgo the Maiden.)

  

At times, the moon will actually occult (move in front of) these stars.     Such occultations will only be visible within a specific region on Earth.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29:  MOON NEAR MARS

The waning crescent moon (9% illuminated) appears to move close to the red planet Mars currently located in the eastern pre-dawn sky.        

SUNDAY, JANUARY 30:  MOON NEAR MERCURY

See the waning crescent moon (4% illuminated) close to the first planet.    Both worlds will be quite low along the eastern horizon.   Look for them both to rise just after 6 a.m.

PLANET WATCH

MERCURY

The first world vacillates this month between the western evening sky at month's beginning to the eastern pre-dawn sky toward month's end.       As it passes into inferior solar conjunction on Jan 9th, it won't be visible mid-month.    VERDICT:    If you must see Mercury, venture out in very early January and look to the west or in very late January and look to the east.

VENUS

Not visible this month!

MARS

Ok.  Keep your eye on Mars this year!  Currently, the red planet lurks low in the eastern pre-dawn sky.  Throughout most of 2022, Mars will draw closer to Earth and will consequently become brighter.     On December 8th, Mars will reach opposition, the time when Earth passes between it and the Sun and will shine at its maximum brightness.   VERDICT:   You'll be able to observe Mars all year.  This month, Mars will be somewhat difficult to find owing to its low position in the eastern pre-dawn sky.  If you don't want to wake up early, just wait.  Mars will become more prominent later in 2022.

JUPITER (PICK PLANET!)

Jupiter is the only bright planet remaining in the western evening sky.    Venus, its evening sky companion throughout the fall and early winter, has now vanished into the dusk.   Although Jupiter is destined to go the way of by late February, the behemoth world is still easy to find this evening!  VERDICT:  Catch it while you can!

SATURN

Oh, poor Saturn.  It is dimmer and lower in the sky than Jupiter. Also, it will be exiting stage west by the third week of this month.       VERDICT:  Well, seek out Saturn early this month, but then give it a miss after mid January.      Note: both Jupiter and Saturn will return to the early morning spring skies!

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