annee25008 — Announcement

Night Sky: January 2025

2 January 2025

Look Up!

While NOIRLab works to unravel the secrets of the Universe, you can start your own journey to explore the night sky right from your backyard. There are plenty of celestial events for skywatchers to observe every month. Below are some highlights. If you’d like to explore more on your own, we recommend Stellarium, which has a web interface and app.

3–4 January: Venus, the Moon, and Saturn Line Up 

On 3 January, Venus, a crescent Moon, and Saturn will line up neatly in the evening sky. Jupiter will also be visible in the east. The lineup will change on 4 January, when Saturn will be between the Moon and Venus.

9 January: The Moon and the Seven Sisters

On 9 January, the Moon will be right next to the Pleiades, also known as M45 or the Seven Sisters. Unfortunately the Moon will be 83% full, which will make it difficult to see the much fainter stars in the Pleiades. After sunset look east from Tucson and Hilo, and north from La Serena.

As an added bonus for Tucson viewers, the star Alcyon (one of the Seven Sisters) will be behind the Moon as the sky darkens after sunset. Look for it to reappear on the west limb of the Moon (the upper-right as seen from Earth) around 6:23 p.m. MST.

10 January: The Moon and Jupiter host a Planet Party 

On 10 January the Moon and Jupiter will be very near each other in the sky. Beneath them will be Mars, while Saturn and Venus line up in the opposite sky. 

13 January: Mars occultation

On 13 January Mars will disappear behind the Moon for an hour, creating a lunar occultation. This will only be visible from Tucson (although Hilo and La Serena will see a close pairing). Mars will start moving behind the Moon at 6:47 p.m. MST and start reappearing at 7:46 p.m. Because Mars will reach opposition — its point directly opposite the Sun as seen from Earth — on 15 January, it will appear about as bright as it can get.

18 January: Venus and Saturn

On 18 January, Venus and Saturn will be very close in the evening sky. Jupiter and Mars will also be visible, and the sky will be dark until the Moon rises later in the night. 

Contacts

Jason Davis
Email: jason.davis@noirlab.edu

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About the Announcement

Id:annee25008

Images

Look Up!
Look Up!
The sky just after sunset as seen from Tucson on 3 January. Hilo will have a similar view. The lineup will be angled down and to the left from La Serena, with Jupiter in the north.
The sky just after sunset as seen from Tucson on 3 January. Hilo will have a similar view. The lineup will be angled down and to the left from La Serena, with Jupiter in the north.
The sky about an hour after sunset as seen from Tucson on 10 January. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus and Saturn will angle down and to the left, with Jupiter above the Moon in the north, and Mars low in the northeast.
The sky about an hour after sunset as seen from Tucson on 10 January. Hilo will have a similar view. From La Serena, Venus and Saturn will angle down and to the left, with Jupiter above the Moon in the north, and Mars low in the northeast.
The sky just after sunset as seen from Tucson on 18 January. Hilo will have a similar view. Saturn and Venus (with Saturn on top instead of Venus) will angle down and to the right from La Serena, with Jupiter in the north.
The sky just after sunset as seen from Tucson on 18 January. Hilo will have a similar view. Saturn and Venus (with Saturn on top instead of Venus) will angle down and to the right from La Serena, with Jupiter in the north.