Dark Sky News

Though Jupiter is still very prominent, Mars enters the spotlight!  At opposition on January 16, Mars is only 14.5″ in diameter, a far cry from its 24.2″ diameter in 2018 or its 25.1″ diameter in 2003! Of course, in 2003, it came closer to the Earth than it had done for almost 60,000 years! Here’s a great site on everything you ever wanted to know about Mars oppositions!

The Quadrantids is an above average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. It peaks this year on the night of the 3rd and morning of the 4th. The crescent moon will set early in the evening, leaving dark skies for what should be an excellent show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes, but can appear anywhere in the sky.

Although Venus has already been pretty high up in the sky most of December, it reaches its greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. It’s definitely not hard to miss in the western sky after sunset!

Although Venus has already been pretty high up in the sky most of December, it reaches its greatest eastern elongation of 47.2 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Venus since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. It’s definitely not hard to miss in the western sky after sunset!

Mars will be completely “full”, at its brightest (mag. -1.4), at its largest apparent diameter of 14.5″, and up all  night! Don’t miss it! Here’s a great site on everything you ever wanted to know about Mars oppositions!

Don’t miss these opportunities to see the Chinese space station!!! 

A spectacular pass on Jan. 3 @ 5:08:32 PM EST – moving across the southern sky from SW to E, the station will be brighter than Saturn (mag. -2.1) and pass right by the Moon, threading the needle between Venus and Saturn!

Then THREE overhead passes in a row almost as bright as Jupiter, right by Jupiter!

Jan. 4 @5:45:21 WSW to E

Jan. 5 @6:22:17 W to WSW

Jan. 6 @5:22:22 W to E

Then TWO overhead passes almost as bright as Jupiter and right by the Moon:

Jan. 7 @ 5:59:11 from W to SE (mag. -1.8)

Jan. 8 @4:59:09 from W ESE (mag. -1.9)