Introduction to January Skygazing Events
A new year means new skygazing events to look forward to, and January has some exciting things worth seeing. Most of the month’s skygazing events occur on the same day, January 3rd.
January 3rd Skygazing Events
January 3rd is the first full moon of the year, known as the Wolf Moon, and rises on the evening of January 2nd before peaking in the early morning hours of January 3rd. According to EarthSky.org, the Wolf Moon will be a supermoon in 2026, meaning the moon’s orbit will be closer to Earth than usual. In addition to the full moon on January 3rd, Earth will also be at perihelion, meaning our orbit will be closest to the sun.
The Quadrantid Meteor Shower
The first major meteor shower of the year will also peak on Saturday, January 3rd. The Quadrantid meteor shower will likely be difficult to spot this year as the full Wolf Moon shines in the sky, but you might be lucky enough to catch a few of the meteors if you block the moonlight.
Jupiter in Opposition
Just a week later, on January 10, Jupiter, which will be clearly visible in the night sky for most of the month, will be in opposition. According to the Planetary Society, Jupiter’s opposition means the planet is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun. Earth will fly between the sun and Jupiter that day.
New Moon and Upcoming Events
The final skygazing event of the month is the new moon, which will occur on January 18th. After that, the next thing to look forward to in the sky will come in February. A partial solar eclipse will take place on February 17th.
