Night Sky Observing Guide: January 2013 (Sky Maps)

Quadrantid 2013 Sky Map

The Quadrantid meteor shower sky map, eastern sky. — Starry Night Software

The Quadrantid meteor shower should give skywatchers looking up at the Eastern sky (shown here) a good show when it peaks in the early hours of Thursday morning (Jan. 3) this week.

Last Quarter Moon, January 2013

Moon Phase, January, last quarter moon. — Starry Night Software

On Friday, Jan. 4, the last quarter moon should be most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

January 2013 New Moon

New Moon January 2013 — Starry Night Software

Friday, Jan. 11, marks the first new moon of 2013.

First Quarter Moon, January 2013

The first quarter moon can be seen on Friday, Jan. 18.

Full Moon, January 2013

The first full moon of 2013 will occur on Saturday, Jan. 26.

Jupiter and the moon Jan. 2013

Jupiter and the moon will appear in the same part of the sky on Monday, Jan. 21.

Venus and the moon January 2013

At sunrise on Thursday, Jan. 10 Venus and the moon will be in the same part of the sky.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.