Skywatching Events for January 2011

This sky map shows where to look in the northeastern sky to spot the annual Quadrantid meteor shower, which peaks overnight on Jan. 3 and Jan. 4, 2011. It will appear between and below the Big Dipper and Little Dipper constellations. CREDIT: NASA/JPL

The year 2011 begins with a packed month of skywatching delights. Here's a look at the most promising skywatching events in January 2011:

Moon Phases

Tue., January 4

New Moon, 4:03 a.m.

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the east as a narrow crescent the morning before, just before sunrise. It is visible in the low southwest the evening after New Moon.

Wed., January 12

First Quarter Moon, 6:31 a.m.

The First Quarter Moon rises around 11 a.m., and sets around 2 a.m.

Wed., January 19

Full Moon, 4:21 p.m.

The Full Moon of January is usually known as the Old Moon. In Algonquian it is called Wolf Moon. Other names are Moon After Yule and Ice Moon. In Hindi it is known as Paush Poornima. Its Sinhala (Buddhist) name is Duruthu Poya. The Full Moon rises around sunset and sets around sunrise, the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Wed., January 26

Last Quarter Moon, 7:57 a.m.

The Last or Third Quarter Moon rises around 1 a.m. and sets around 11 a.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Observing Highlights

Sun., January 2, 8 a.m.

Uranus 0.6° north of Jupiter

Jupiter and Uranus have been dancing with each other for months, but make their closest approach today. This happens before they rise in daylight in North America, but they will still be very close when they become visible just after sunset.

Tue., January 4, midnight–dawn

Quadrantid meteor shower

This should be the best meteor shower of 2011, because there will be no Moon in the sky. The other two reliable showers, the Perseids in August and the Geminids in December, both coincide with bright Moons, which will cut down on the visibility of faint meteors.

Tue., January 4

Partial solar eclipse

Visible at sunrise in northwest Africa and most of Europe, midday in northern Africa and the Middle East, and at sunset in central Asia.

Sat., January 8, 11 a.m.

Venus at greatest elongation west

Venus will exhibit its “half Moon” phase as it reaches its greatest apparent distance from the Sun.

Sun., January 9, 10 a.m.

Mercury at greatest elongation west

Mercury will be at its farthest from the Sun, making for a pair of “morning stars” with Venus.

Mon. January 24, 6:51 p.m. on

Jupiter’s satellites

A remarkable series of events will take place tonight with Jupiter’s satellites:

6:51 p.m. EST/3:51 p.m. PST – Io will begin a transit of Jupiter’s disk

7:04 p.m. EST/4:04 p.m. PST–  Ganymede will also begin to transit Jupiter

7:58 p.m. EST/4:58 p.m. PST – Io’s shadow will begin to cross Jupiter’s face

9:05 p.m. EST/6:05 p.m. PST – Io will end its transit

10:07 p.m. EST/7:07 p.m. PST – Ganymede will complete its transit

10:10 p.m. EST/7:10 p.m. PST – Io’s shadow will end its transit

11:45 p.m. EST/8:45 p.m. PST – Ganymede’s shadow will begin to transit Jupiter

Observers on the East Coast will miss the end of these events because Jupiter will have set. Observers on the West Coast will miss the beginning of these events because of skylight. But everyone should be able to catch some of them.

Planets

Mercury will be a "morning star" for the first half of the month, but will be too close to the Sun to observe for the rest of the month. This will be a poor apparition for observers in the Northern Hemisphere, but a good one for observers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Venus is a brilliant "morning star" all month. It reached greatest elongation west of the Sun on January 8.

Mars is lost in evening twilight, on the far side of the sun.

Jupiter is well placed in the early evening, dominating the southern sky. It is in the constellation Pisces all month. It sets around 10 p.m.

Saturn rises around midnight and is visible the rest of the night in Virgo. Its rings have returned to their usual glory after being on edge for the last two years.

Uranus is in Pisces all month. It had its third, and closest, close encounter with Jupiter on January 2.

Neptune is too close to the Sun to be observed.

This Sky Calendar is provided by Starry Night Education with contributions by Larry Sessions and Geoff Gaherty.