The Nantucket Sky in January 2008
(All times are given in Eastern Standard Time)
The Sun (for the middle of the month, January 15)
Rises at 7:04 a.m.
Sets at 4:36 p.m.
The Moon
First Quarter: January 15, 02:46 pm
Full Moon: January 22, 08:35 am
Last Quarter: January 30, 12:03 am
Planets
Mercury: It is a difficult planet to observe in general, because of its closeness to the Sun. Relatively very good conditions for its observations will be from about January 19th to 26th. Look at the west-southwest horizon about a half-hour after sunset. Mercury is the brightest ’star’ at about 10 degrees (two vertically-oriented fists at an extended arm’s length) above the horizon.
Venus: The last month to see it as the Morning Star. Very bright in the East, before sunrise, but lower and lower each morning. At the very end of the month, it will be very close to Jupiter, low above the horizon before dawn. Should be an impressive view on January 31 and February 1.
Mars: An all-night object, still close to the Earth (opposition) and relatively bright.
Jupiter: Still close to the Sun in the sky. At the end of the month, it will be seen for a short period of time before sunrise. It will be low above the horizon, but at the very end of the month it will be next to Venus, and the pair of the two brightest planets seen next to each other should be spectacular.
Saturn: Rises earlier and earlier in the evening and in January will be best seen by midnight, in the south.
Comets
Comet Holmes that flared up in October 2007, may still be visible in January, in Perseus. (go to http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/10775326.html for many pictures of the comet and a map).
Another periodic comet, 8P/Tuttle, goes through its perihelion (closest point to the Sun) in January and will be easily observable with binoculars and maybe even with an unaided eye. See more at http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance and/or come to the Loines Observatory open nights to observe the comets and other miracles of the sky.
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