2026, January 11: Winter’s Predawn Sky Matches Summer’s Brightest Stars

January 11, 2026: Before sunrise, 10 of the brightest stars shine in the predawn sky, including the Summer Triangle and brilliant Jupiter low in the west-northwest.

The constellation Orion rises into view during the early evening hours of February each year.
Photo Caption – The constellation Orion rises into view during the early evening hours of February each year.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 7:17 a.m. CST; Sunset, 4:41 p.m. CST.  Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.

Bright Stars in Morning Sky

Summer Triangle, January 11, 2026
Chart Caption – 2026, January 11: The Summer Triangle – Vega, Altair, and Deneb – is in the east-northeast before sunrise.

As Orion appears in the eastern evening sky, the predawn sky displays 10 of the 15 brightest stars visible from the mid-northern latitudes. On the brightness list, they are Arcturus (2), Vega (3), Capella (4), Procyon (6), Altair (8), Spica (10), Antares (11), Pollux (12), Deneb (14), and Regulus (15). Procyon is very low in the western sky and is not visible without a binocular’s optical assist. Additionally, bright Jupiter, outshining all stars in the night sky and a night after its opposition, is about 10° above the west-northwest horizon.

This morning sky appears again during late spring after sunset. As Earth revolves around the sun, the stars appear at different times of night — during January before sunrise and during late spring after sunset.

As part of this predawn display, about one hour before sunrise, the Summer Triangle is low in the east-northeast. The pattern is formed by Vega, Altair, and Deneb. Each star belongs to a different constellation: Vega in Lyra, Altair in Aquila, and Deneb in Cygnus.

Blue-white Vega is less than halfway from the horizon to overhead, while Altair is nearly 10° above the east horizon. Deneb, the tail of Cygnus, is about 20° above the northeast horizon.

These three stars appear in the western sky after sundown tonight, with Deneb marking the triangle’s highest corner.

If you are already hoping for warmer weather, the predawn stars offer a preview of the skies ahead.

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