January 13-15, 2026: Before sunrise, a thinning crescent moon passes Antares in the southeastern sky. Earthshine, precise separations, and daily changes are detailed.
2026, January 12: Mid-January Night Sky: Crescent Moon, Jupiter After Opposition, and Distant Planets
January 12, 2026: Four planets and a waning crescent moon shape the mid-January night sky. Find Jupiter after opposition, Saturn and Neptune after sunset, and Uranus near the Pleiades.
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.
2026, January 10: Jupiter at Opposition Brightens the Night Sky
January 10, 2026: Jupiter reaches opposition, shining as the brightest starlike object in the night sky. Learn when to see it, how it moves, and why it retrogrades this year near Gemini.
2026, January 10-12: Spica and the Waning Half Moon Before Sunrise
January 10-12, 2026: Watch the Last Quarter Moon pass Spica before sunrise. See precise positions, angular separations, and where to look each morning.
2026, January 9: Mars at Conjunction, Jupiter Closest to Earth
January 9, 2026: Mars reaches conjunction on the sun’s far side while Jupiter nears opposition and shines all night as the brightest starlike object in the sky.
2026, January 7: Sky Almanac – Featuring Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, and Winter Stars
January 7, 2026: Daily sky almanac covering the sun, moon, planets, and seasonal stars, with precise directions, conjunctions, and observing guidance.
2026, January 6: Venus at Superior Conjunction Marks Shift to Evening Sky
January 6, 2026: Venus reaches superior conjunction today on the sun’s far side, ending its morning apparition and beginning its slow return to the western evening sky.
2026, January 5: Jupiter Passes Castor as Opposition Nears
January 5, 2026: Bright Jupiter passes Castor in Gemini as it nears opposition. See where to find the planet each evening and how its retrograde motion becomes easy to observe.
2026, January 5-8: Waning Gibbous Moon Passes Leo before Sunrise
January 5-8, 2026: Watch the waning gibbous moon pass Leo during early January mornings. Use a binocular to trace the Lion’s shape and locate Regulus and Denebola before sunrise.