2022, January 19-22: The bright moon appears near the stars of Leo.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
The bright moon appears near the stars of Leo during the predawn hours of January 19 through January 22.
With the earlier sunsets, the moon rises later during the evening in the eastern sky. During the night it seems to move farther west, crossing the south mark after midnight, and appears in the west-southwest before sunrise.
Look to the western sky about an hour before sunrise. Here’s what’s visible:
January 19: Less than two days after the New phase, the bright moon – 98% illuminated – is nearly 25° above the western horizon. This morning the lunar orb is technically in Cancer, which has very dim stars. The moon is to the lower right of the backwards question mark that makes the head of the celestial Lion.
January 20: This morning the moon is 94% illuminated and near the backwards question mark. Because the moon’s size is exaggerated on the accompanying chart, it seems to cover Eta Leonis. Through a binocular find the star 0.6° to the upper right of the moon. The lunar globe is 4.2° to the upper right of Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation.
January 21: The moon, over 40° up in the west-southwest and 88% illuminated, is nearly midway from Regulus to the Lion’s tail, Denebola, but below a line that connects the two stars.
January 22: The gibbous moon is near Denebola this morning. It is 80% illuminated and 8.7° to the lower left of the star. The moon has moved into Virgo.
During the next several mornings the moon moves closer to Venus that is shining very low in the east-southeast at this hour.
RECENT PODCASTS
LATEST ARTICLES
- 2026, April 11: Spring Evening Sky – Spica, Hydra, Corvus, and Crater After Sunset
April 11, 2026: Two hours after sunset, find Spica low in the southeast with Hydra passing beneath it. Locate Corvus and Crater riding on the Snake’s back in the spring evening sky. - 2026, April 10: Spring Evening Sky – Leo, Cancer, and Hydra the Snake After Sunset
April 10, 2026: Leo stands high in the southern sky while faint Cancer and the Beehive Cluster appear nearby. Below them, Hydra the Snake stretches eastward toward Spica, marked by the solitary glow of Alphard. - 2026, April 9: Sun, Moon, and Planet Almanac
April 9, 2026: The Last Quarter moon appears before sunrise in front of Sagittarius while Venus and Jupiter dominate the evening sky. Track daylight changes and planetary visibility. - 2026, April 8 -11: Morning Moon and Sagittarius Before Sunrise
A waning gibbous moon moves in front of Sagittarius before sunrise from April 8–11l. See the changing positions each morning. - 2026, April 7: Moon Near Antares Before Sunrise, Venus and Jupiter After Sunset
2026, April 7: A 75% illuminated moon appears near Antares before sunrise. After sunset, Venus and Jupiter shine brightly, with Venus moving toward a conjunction in the evening sky.