Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday January 8th and 9th, 2024 written by Joe Slomka

This is the Skywatch Line for Monday and Tuesday January 8th and 9th, written by Joe Slomka.

The Sun sets at 4:39 PM; night falls at 6:20. Dawn breaks at 5:44 AM and ends with sunrise at 7:26.

The 26-day Moon is difficult to find. In Scorpius, it rises at 4:47 AM and sets at 1:35 PM. At 6:30 AM, it is 12° high in the West, 31 arc-minutes in size and 11% illuminated. Tuesday’s Moon shifts to western Ophiuchus, rises at 5:59 AM, sets at 2:25 PM. At 6:30 AM, it is very low 3° and only 5% lit.

All evening planets rise during daytime and are visible by 7 PM. Saturn remains first to be seen, but the observation window is narrowing; it lies 46° from the Sun in Aquarius, 1st magnitude, 16 arc-seconds, 14° high and sets at 8:24. Neptune follows, 21° behind Saturn, 8th magnitude, only 2 arc-seconds, 32° high and sets at 10:14 PM.

Jupiter and Uranus share southern Aries. The Gas Giant flashes with minus 2nd magnitude, a large 42 arc-seconds, 59° highest at 6:57 PM and sets at 1:46 AM. On Monday the Great Red Spot (a giant storm) is observable at 11:51 PM; Tuesday, it is evident at 7:42 PM. Uranus follows by 13°, glows with 5th magnitude, 3 arc-seconds, highest at 7:49 PM, 62° high, by midnight it is 31° high and sets at 2:58 AM.

Dawn is becoming active in the Southeast. Venus and Mercury share Ophiuchus. Venus is first, rising at 4:26 AM, 36° from the Sun, blazes with minus 4th magnitude, 13 arc-seconds, 82% illuminated, and 14° high at 6:30 AM. Mercury follows 12° behind, 23° from the Sun, minus zero magnitude, 7 arc-seconds, 56% lit, and 6° high at 6:30 AM. Mars peeks in Sagittarius, 8° behind Mercury, only 15° from the Sun, first magnitude, 4 arc-seconds, rises at 6:34 AM and is 4° high at 7 AM. All three set during daytime.

Eastern Asteroid 4Vesta visits Taurus, glowing with 7th magnitude, 99% lit, rises at 2:54 PM, 42° highest at 10:21 PM and sets at 4:53 AM.

January 7th, was the Christian feast of the Epiphany, otherwise known as “Three Kings Day”. But, who were these “kings”? Most likely they were Magi from the eastern empire of Babylon. Babylonians were famous for their astronomical skill. By 2000 BC, they identified all five visible planets, major constellations, the zodiac and Saros cycle of eclipses. These priest-astrologers were powerful and respected throughout the known world.

These dedicated sky watchers would certainly have noticed any new object or event in the night sky. While some think that a comet or supernova may have been the “Christmas Star”. The prevailing opinion is that it may have been an astrological event: most likely being at triple conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter during the year 7 BC. In the course of the year, Jupiter appears to: chase Saturn, catch up with it, pass it, turn around and catch up with and pass Saturn again, and finally catch up with Saturn one more time before sailing eastward past it. This startling series of events took place in Pisces, a significant constellation. While we now know planets to be worlds like our own Earth, to the ancients stars and planets were messengers from the gods. When two planets, associated with the most powerful gods, keep meeting, the Magi knew something significant was about to happen. These scholars were familiar with their neighbors. A search of Jewish documents provided the inspiration to set off for that distant land and a possible meeting with a new god-king.