Now in the night sky this week you can see all 4 of the bright planets around 10 PM. Venus is in the southwest, dimmer Saturn is above and to the right of the bright Venus, Jupiter is overhead, and red Mars is in the east. A bonus is the moon shining bright.
On Saturday the Earth will have its closest approach to the sun, although you would never know being so cold out. Remember Earth’s orbit is not a perfect circle.
Venus shines in the southwest. As the second brightest object in the night sky, it reigns supreme. Then look opposite in the sky and you see Jupiter in the northeast shining brightly. It is the third brightest object in the night sky after Venus and the Moon.
Saturn shines prominently in the southwest in Aquarius setting after Venus. It’s easy to spot as the brightest object in that region. If you have a telescope, this is your chance to marvel at its famous rings. The rings will disappear on March 23 due to their tilt to be viewed edge-on.
Jupiter is hanging out between the horns of Taurus the Bull next to the orange star Aldebaran (the eye of the bull). It is up in the east when it gets dark. Jupiter is very bright and relatively close to Earth. Now the first three objects to show up are the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter. The giant gas planet is overhead around 10 PM.
Mars rising early in the night in Cancer near the bright stars Castor and Pollux in Gemini. You cannot miss it, due to its red color. As the year wraps up, the red planet will grow brighter, moving closer to Earth in its orbit.
Mercury appears in the morning sky around 40 minutes before sunrise. It will be close to the eastern horizon north of the reddish star Antares (the heart of the scorpion). The little planet is in the “13th Zodiac constellation of Ophiuchus.
The rising of Orion, Canis Major, and Canis Minor is one of the most magical sights in the winter sky in the southeast. It starts with Orion, the Hunter, making his grand entrance. You’ll spot his famous belt—three bright stars lined up perfectly in a row. Above the belt is Betelgeuse, a huge red star that has a warm, reddish glow, while below it is Rigel, a brilliant blue-white star that shines like a diamond. Orion is hard to miss and is often the first constellation people recognize in the winter.
Not far behind Orion comes Canis Major, the “Greater Dog.” This constellation is home to Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Sirius steals the show with its intense, bluish-white sparkle. It’s like the sky’s spotlight! In mythology, Canis Major is one of Orion’s loyal hunting dogs, always by his side as he roams the celestial hunting grounds.
Trailing after is Canis Minor, the “Lesser Dog.” It’s a smaller constellation, but it has Procyon, a bright, cheerful-looking star. Even though Canis Minor doesn’t have as many standout stars as Canis Major, it still plays an important role in completing the picture. You can find it a bit to the northeast of Orion, lining up neatly with Sirius and the Hunter’s belt.
When all three rise together, they create an incredible scene. They’re part of what’s called the Winter Triangle, a big pattern of bright stars that lights up the winter night sky. It’s like a natural showcase of some of the most dazzling stars in the heavens, and once you’ve seen it, it’s hard to forget.
Enjoy this stunning celestial lineup throughout the week of January 10! The universe has quite a spectacle in store for us.