New Year, New Night Sky!
Francis Parnell
By Francis Parnell
In January, Jupiter and Saturn adorn the night sky.
On January 3rd at 12:16 p.m. Earth is at Perihelion, its closest point to the Sun for 2026, at 91,403,637 miles.
At dusk on the 3rd, face east-northeast to see the Full Wolf Moon rising with Pollux, one of the Gemini twins, 3 degrees to it’s left and bright yellow Jupiter 3 degrees to the right. Binoculars give a nice view of this event.
On the 9th, Jupiter is at opposition, 390,693,256 miles away. Jupiter is in Gemini where it’s to the right of Pollux.
One hour before sunrise on the 14th, look southeast to see the waning lunar crescent 3.5 degrees upper right of the red supergiant Antares, the heart of Scorpius, the Scorpion.
At dusk on the 22nd, face west-southwest to observe yellow Saturn 6 degrees upper left of the waxing crescent Moon.
At dusk on the 30th, look east to spot the waxing gibbous Moon forming a triangle with Jupiter and Pollux. Jupiter is positioned 3.5 degrees lower right of the Moon.
“Keep looking up!”