SkyEye

The Calendar

The Solar System

The word planet is derived from the Greek word for 'wanderer'. Unlike the background stars, planets seem to move around the sky, keeping mostly to a narrow track called the ecliptic, the path of the Sun across the stars. Dwarf planets and small solar-system bodies, including comets, are not so constrained, often moving far above or below the ecliptic.

Sun Sagittarius → Capricornus

The Earth makes its annual closest approach to the Sun on 4 January. The date of perihelion can range from New Year's Day to 5 January.

Mercury Sagittarius → Capricornus

Now an evening sky object, the closest planet to the Sun never rises very high above the western horizon at sunset. The best viewing will occur mid-month when Mercury is at greatest elongation east. Afterwards, it dives back towards the Sun with inferior conjunction on the penultimate day of the month.

Venus Sagittarius → Capricornus → Aquarius

Venus is our 'morning star' until August. Found in the southwest after sunset, it rapidly gains altitude this month for northern hemisphere observers. Sadly, viewers in the southern hemisphere will not get the best views of this bright object.

Mars Capricornus → Aquarius

The red planet remains an evening object this month, setting well before midnight.

Juno Hydra

The third asteroid to be discovered reaches opposition on 29 January. However, since it is at best eighth magnitude, a small telescope will be required to view it.

Jupiter Leo

The largest planet in the solar system is at opposition next month, putting it on display most of the night.

Saturn Libra → Scorpius

You will have to get up early to spot the ringed planet. It is a morning sky object and rises well after midnight.

Uranus Pisces

This ice giant is at east quadrature on the third day of the month and sets around midnight. The Moon occults Uranus on 25 January but you will need to be in Russia or China to observe it during the hours of darkness.

Neptune Aquarius

A small telescope is necessary to view the most distant planet in the solar system. However, with solar conjunction approaching next month, it may be too close to the Sun to easily observe.