Stargazers can rejoice the brand new 12 months by wanting up at one of many briefest meteor showers of the 12 months.
On the primary 5 days of 2025, the Quadrantid meteor bathe will streak throughout the sky with a peak of 40 taking pictures stars per hour. But January’s headliner is Mars, which will likely be at its greatest and brightest for the 12 months. Astronomy buffs may see star clusters all through the month.
Frank Bifulco, board member of the Rockland Astronomy Club, mentioned January is sweet for stargazing as a result of celestial objects seem a lot earlier within the night. “The dangerous factor is it’s chilly out, and that’s the trade-off with the winter,” he added.
As quickly because the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, revelers can search for and see the yellow and white stars of the Beehive star cluster within the southern portion of the sky, proper within the middle of the constellation Canis Major, which is just under the brightest star within the heavens, Sirius.
The bluish Pleiades and yellowish Hyades are two seen star clusters within the Taurus constellation throughout the early-evening hours this month. On Jan. 9, the moon will seem to the proper of the Pleiades.
“The Pleiades are a super-bright blue,” mentioned Kat Troche, a NASA photo voltaic system ambassador. “It’s one of many well-known, well-studied star clusters.”
In January, planets are rising earlier and extra seen. On Jan. 3, Venus will seem to the underside proper facet of the moon after sundown. The hottest planet in our photo voltaic system will proceed to be one of many brightest objects within the night time sky, showing within the western portion of the heavens.
“Venus is so brilliant. You can see it in Midtown Manhattan, not an issue in any respect,” Bifulco mentioned.
Saturn may also be seen. On Jan. 4 the fuel big will seem beneath and to the proper of the moon.
But Mars is the main act among the many planets. On Jan. 13, it can have an occultation when it begins to maneuver behind the moon at 9:21 p.m. after which reappear on the opposite facet simply over an hour later. Occultations are a uncommon sight in New York City.
Three days later, Earth’s neighbor will likely be in opposition, that means it will likely be at its closest distance to our planet. Mars will likely be totally illuminated by the solar.
“Mars goes to be very straightforward to search out as a result of it’s going to be proper close to the moon,” Troche mentioned. “It’ll be this bright-red shade. You can not miss it.”
Stargazers keen to courageous the chilly can try the nonprofit Amateur Astronomers Association’s Jan. 7 sidewalk occasion with telescopes in Brooklyn.
