Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, January 20th and 21th, written by Joe Slomka

This is the Skywatch Line for Monday, and Tuesday, January 20th and 21th, written by Joe Slomka

The Sun sets at 4:53 PM; night falls at 6:33. Dawn begins at 5:41 AM and ends with the Sun rising at 7:19.

The Moon resides in Virgo on both nights. Monday’s rose at 11 PM Sunday; by 5 AM the Moon was 39° high in the South, 29 arc-seconds in size, 63% illuminated and sets at 10:25 AM. Tuesday’s Last Quarter rises at 12:03 AM with the star Spica, by 5 AM it is 33° high in the South, same size, 55% lit and sets at 10:44 AM. Wednesday’s Moon rises at 1:07 AM.

Southern Aquarius hosts Venus and Saturn, followed closely by Neptune. Venus rises first at 9:24 AM, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, appears 28 arc-seconds, highest at 3:07 PM, 19° high at 7 PM, 45% lit and sets at 8:50 PM. Saturn rises 9 minutes later, shines with 1st magnitude, 16 arc-seconds, highest at 3:05 PM, 17° high and sets at 8:41 PM. Neptune lies 10° from Saturn, rises in Pisces at 9:55 AM, 8th magnitude, 2 arc-seconds, highest at 3:46 PM and sets at 9:21 PM.

Southern Uranus emerges in Aries, 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, rises at 12:05 PM, peak at 7:15 PM, 65° highest and sets at 2:33 AM. Jupiter lies l8° from Neptune in Taurus, rises at 1:07 PM, glimmers with minus second magnitude, large 45 arc-seconds, 68° highest at 8:32 PM and sets at 4:05 AM. Tuesday finds Europa beginning travel at 1:05 AM and ends at 3:38 AM; its shadow initiates at 3:303 AM and closes at 5:39 AM. The Great Red Spot (a large storm) sets off at 3:34 AM.

Eastern Mars, in Gemini, is now past Opposition, rising at 3:55 PM, sparking with minus 1st magnitude, 14 arc-seconds, 31° at 7 PM, 73° at 11:38 PM and sets at 7:31 AM.

Winters in the Northeast are notoriously cloudy. However, when skies are clear, the night sky presents a riot of brilliant stars and constellations that seem close enough to reach out and touch. Twenty-three of the fifty brightest stars are visible in tonight’s sky. Orion, the Dogs and Taurus account for the majority of the brightest stars in the heavens. Sirius is not only brightest on this list, but also second only to the Sun in luminosity; it is also the leading light of Canis Major, the Large Dog. About half of the list lies relatively close to us; the other half is intrinsically brighter, though further away. So, if it is clear, bundle up and enjoy Nature’s sky show.