January 3-5, 2021: The gibbous moon appears near Leo and Virgo in the southwest before sunrise.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
During the mornings of January 3-5, the waning moon appears in the southwest before sunrise.
Venus is low in the southeast at this time.
Read about Venus during January.
The moon appears farther eastward each morning as it approaches Venus for a picturesque pose on the morning of January 11.
Here’s what to look for each morning:
- January 3: The bright gibbous moon – nearly halfway up in the sky – is 7.2° to the upper left of the star Regulus. While the moon is bright look for the “Sickle of Leo,” a backwards question mark made of six stars to the upper right of the moon.
- January 4: Look for the bright moon – about halfway up in the sky. It is 7.9° to the lower right of Denebola, the Tail of the Lion.
- January 5: The bright moon is 6.6° to the upper right of Gamma Virginis (γ Vir on the chart.
Read more about the planets during January.
2022, January 3: Venus – Moon Conjunction
January 3, 2022: The moon passes Venus for the final time of this evening appearance of Venus. As night falls, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter are visible in the southwest. Mars is in the southeast before sunrise.
2021, December 30: Sirius at Midnight
December 30, 2021: As the year ends and the new one opens, the night sky’s brightest star – Sirius – is in the southern sky at the midnight hour.
2021, December 31: Mars – Moon Conjunction, Four Evening Planets
December 31, 2021: This morning before sunup, the thin waning crescent moon appears near Mars and the star Antares. Four planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are on parade in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 30: Scorpion Morning Moon, Four Evening Planets
December 30, 2021: The morning crescent moon seems to be captured in the Scorpion’s pincers to the upper right of Mars. Four Evening Planets – Venus, Mercury, Saturn, and Jupiter – are in the southwest after sundown.
2021, December 28: Andromeda High in South
December 28, 2021: The Great Andromeda Galaxy is nearly overhead at the end of the evening twilight.
Categories: Astronomy, Sky Watching
Leave a Reply