The Night Sky in January

Abstract

NEW moon occurs on Jan. 11d. 07h. 44m.,U.T., and full moon on Jan. 26d. 07h. 1lm. The following conjunctions with the moon take place : Jan. 8d. 14h., Jupiter 3° N. ; Jan. 14d. 04h., Venus 4° N.; Jan. 27d. 05h., Saturn 4° S. ; Jan. 28d. 06h., Mars 0.6° S. Mercury, in superior conjunction on Jan. 3, becomes an evening star later and sets at 16h. 52m., and 18h. 15m., at the middle and end of the month, respectively, but the planet lies too low for good visibility. Venus, an evening star of stellar magnitude - 3.4, sets at 18h. 23m., 19h. 08m. and 20h., at the beginning, middle and end of the month, respectively, and is a conspicuous object, about 80 per cent of the illuminated disk being visible. Mars, in the constellation of Leo, is visible throughout the greater portion of the night, rising at 21h., 20h. 04m. and 18h. 41m., on Jan. 1, 15 and 31, respectively. Jupiter is not visible until the late morning hours, its time of rising on Jan. 1 being 6h. 20m., and 4h. 50m. on Jan. 31. As the planet does not attain an altitude of 17° in the latitude of Greenwich, it is not very suitably placed for observation. Saturn, in the constellation of Leo, is visible throughout most of the night, rising at 19h. 46m. and 17h. 30m., at the beginning and end of the month, respectively. Occultations of stars brighter than magnitude 6 are as follows : Jan 3d. 05h. 35.lm., Virg. m. (D) ; Jan. 3d. 06h. 48.5m., Virg. (R) ; Jan. 17d. 19h. 45.7m., 14 Ceti (D) ; Jan. 23d. 20h. 51.9m., 139 Taur. (D). D and R refer to disappearance and reappearance, respectively, and the latitude and longitude of Greenwich are assumed. In addition to these occultations of stars, Mars is occulted on Jan. 28d. 06h. 09.9m., reappearing at 6h. 26.3m. The earth is in perihelion on Jan. 2.