2021, January 3-5: Morning Moon

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.