Post by Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe on Dec 31, 2006 0:26:06 GMT -6
January 2007 Astronomical Highlights
3 Wed: January's full Moon is called Moon After Yule and Old Moon.
3 Wed.: Earth is at perihelion, meaning it is closest to the Sun at 91.7 million miles in it annual elliptical orbit.
4 Thu: The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks but the Moon interferes this year.
6 Sat. morning: The Moon 4 degrees to lower right of Saturn high in the west.
6 Sat. evening: The Moon is within 1 degree (two moonwidths) of Leo's brightest star Regulus when they rise at 9 p.m.
9 Tue. morning: Jupiter is to the left of Scorpius' brightest star Antares when they rise in the SE just before dawn.
9 Tue. morning: Latest sunrise of the year for latitude 30 degrees N.
11 Thu. morning: The 3rd quarter Moon is to the right of Virgo's brightest star Spica high in the south before dawn.
15 Mon. morning: The crescent Moon passes less than two moonwidths to the right of Antares low in the SE before dawn, with Jupiter 5 degrees to their upper left.
16 Tue. morning: Just before dawn, a thin crescent Moon is just above the SE horizon with Mars rising to its lower left and bright Jupiter higher above.
18 Thu. evening: Venus passes 1.3 degrees to the left of Neptune low in the WSW at dusk.
20 Sat. evening: A thin crescent Moon is 3 degrees above Venus low in the WSW at dusk - should be a beautiful sight.
22 Mon. evening: The crescent Moon is 3 degrees below Uranus low in the west after dark