Outlook for the Week of January 20th through 26th, 2025

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Here’s a brief look at what’s going on in the skies above the Mile High City this week.

January 20:

Saturn and Venus on January 20th 1 hour after sunset
Saturn and Venus on January 20th 1 hour after sunset. Image created with Stellarium.
  • The moon reaches apogee (its farthest distance from earth) at 10:00 AM MST, when it’s 251,219 miles away.
  • Look for Venus and Saturn to be less than 3° apart (about two fingers’ width)  in the constellation of Aquarius towards the southwest in the early evening sky.

January 21:

The Moon and Spica about an hour before sunrise on January 21st
The Moon and Spica about an hour before sunrise on January 21st. Image created with Stellarium.
  • The last quarter moon falls at 1:31 PM MST
  • Look for the moon to be about 4° away (less than 3 fingers’ width) from Spica high overhead in the early morning sky in the constellation Virgo.

January 22:

Orion the Hunter. Photo by DAS Member Jim Fouch
Orion the Hunter. Photo by DAS Member Jim Fouch
  • Orion, one of the most famous and recognizable constellations, shines brightly through the January night sky. Look southward in the evening, and you’ll spot Orion’s Belt — three bright stars in a straight line. Above the belt is Betelgeuse, a massive red supergiant nearing the end of its life, and below it is Rigel, a brilliant blue-white supergiant that’s actually part of a multiple star system. Orion is also home to the Orion Nebula, a fuzzy patch below the belt where new stars are being born. This nebula is so bright that you can even see it with binoculars! 

January 23:

Planet Parade on January 23rd about 1 hour after sunset
Planet Parade on January 23rd about 1 hour after sunset. Image created with Stellarium.
  • Throughout January 2025, several planets light up the night sky, and many can be seen with the naked eye. Venus shines brightly in the west after sunset, while Jupiter glows high overhead and Saturn appears lower on the horizon. Mars, with its reddish hue, is also visible to the naked eye. If you have a telescope, you can spot the distant ice giants Uranus and Neptune, which are too faint to see without assistance. The planets make winter stargazing extra exciting!

January 24:

Mars and Pollux about an hour after sunset on January 24th
Mars and Pollux about an hour after sunset on January 24th. Image created with Stellarium.
  • Look for Mars and Pollux to be less than 3° away (about 2 fingers’ width) in the constellation Gemini for the entire evening. 
  • Dark Sky Weekend at the Klein-Dodge Dark Sky Site for DAS Members (more info) 
  • Sandstone Ranch Star Party – weather permitting (more info) 

January 25:

The Moon and Antares on January 25th about 1 hour after sunset
The Moon and Antares on January 25th about 1 hour after sunset. Image created with Stellarium.
  • Look for the Moon to be about 7° (about 4 fingers’ width) from Antares (the heart of the scorpion) in the constellation Scorpius before dawn. 
  • Dark Sky Weekend at the Klein-Dodge Dark Sky Site for DAS Members (more info) 
  • Sandstone Ranch Star Party – backup date (more info)

January 26:

The Winter Triangle asterism on January 26th around 10pm
The Winter Triangle asterism on January 26th around 10pm. Image created with Stellarium.
  • The Winter Triangle is a bright and easy-to-find asterism in the January night sky. It’s made up of three stars: Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, Procyon, and Betelgeuse. Sirius, part of the constellation Canis Major, shines like a sparkling diamond. Procyon, in the constellation Canis Minor, is slightly dimmer but still very bright. Betelgeuse, the red supergiant in Orion, completes the triangle. Together, these stars form a big, noticeable shape that helps stargazers find other constellations nearby. 
  • Dark Sky Weekend at the Klein-Dodge Dark Sky Site for DAS Members (more info) 

This Week’s Meteoric Activity:

  • Anthelion (ANT): 1:00 AM local time in central Cancer: 2 per hour
  • Alpha Hydrids (AHY): 2:00 AM local time in western Hydra: 1 per hour
  • Alpha Antliids (AAN): 2:00 AM local time in western Sextans: 1 per hour
  • Omicron Leonids or Kappa Cancrids (OLE): 2:00AM in southwestern Leo: less than 1 per hour
  • Xi Ursae Majorids (XUM): 3:00 AM local time in southern Ursa Major: less than 1 per hour
  • Comae Berenicids (COM): 5:00 AM local time in southern Coma Berenices: 1 per hour
  • Sigma Virginids (DSV): Just before dawn in southern Serpens Caput: less than 1 per hour
  • Xi Coronae Borealids (XCB): Last hour before dawn in central Hercules: less than 1 per hour