January will be a special month in the sky. Step outside on any night, and especially on a moonless night away from city lights, and you will be dazzled by one of the best sights in astronomy – the starry sky. Although January nights are cold, a quick look will be rewarding. Most of the brightest stars in the sky, accompanied by even brighter Jupiter, will be rising in the east, and in the west the three bright stars of the Summer Triangle will be setting during the early evening. Following them and higher in a dim part of the southwestern sky will be unmistakable Saturn and below it, bright Fomalhaut in Piscis Austrinus (the Southern Fish).

You don’t need to know anything about astronomy to enjoy the night sky. Just pause on any night of the year and look up. The awe-inspiring starry expanse will be overhead. Take at least a few minutes and look all around the sky to fully enjoy it. Also, since the Earth orbits the Sun, the stars of the night sky gradually change. Each season has its own delights and at least one prominent constellation that can be used to find other stars and constellations. Winter features Orion (the Hunter), spring has the Big Dipper asterism in Ursa Major (the Great Bear) at its highest, summer has Scorpius (the Scorpion), and fall has Cassiopeia (the Queen) at her highest.

While each season is special, winter is grandest of all. It is ruled by Orion, the brightest constellation of all. He can be found easily by looking in the southern sky for his belt of three stars. They are the only row of three evenly spaced and equally bright stars in the sky. Orion’s belt is within a box of four stars. To its left or above are very bright Betelgeuse and fairly bright Bellatrix that represent his shoulders and to the belt’s right or below are very bright Rigel and fairly bright Saiph that represent his knees. Note also that Orion’s belt stars point up or to the right to Aldebaran the brightest star in Taurus (the Bull) and down or to the left to the brightest star in the sky, Sirius in Canis Major (the Great Dog).

In Greek mythology, Orion was the son of Poseidon (Roman, Neptune) and a giant. He was generally regarded as a crude and boastful hunter. However, he is revered in Messina, a seaport on the coast of Sicily. According to legend, he smoothed the rugged land along the coast for a protected harbor and city. He is honored by a large and beautiful fountain in the city square.

Observing Highlights

Jan. 1: At midnight, brilliant Sirius in the constellation Canis Major (the Great Dog), will be at its highest, straight south and about half way up in the sky. It will be twinkling like a bright diamond welcoming in the New Year.

Jan. 3: When they rise in the early evening, the full Moon will be to the left of brilliant Jupiter and to the right of Pollux, the slightly brighter star of the twin stars of Gemini (the Twins). During the evening, the Moon will move eastward in its orbit, and by midnight it will be directly in line below Pollux and Castor above Pollux.

Jan. 5: The Moon will rise just before Regulus, the brightest star in Leo (the Lion), at about 9:00. It will follow Regulus into the sky on the 6th.

Jan. 10: After they rise at about 1:00, the Moon will lead Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo (the Maiden), across the sky until dawn. The Moon will follow Spica on the 11th.

Jan. 10: Brilliant Jupiter will be at opposition when it is opposite the Sun in Earth’s sky. It will rise at sunset, be at its highest and straight south at midnight, and set at dawn. It will be at its closest to Earth and brightest for the year.

Jan. 14: Just before dawn, the crescent Moon will rise to the right of Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius (the Scorpion).

Jan. 22: The Moon will be to the lower right of Saturn at nightfall and farther above Saturn on the 23rd.

Jan. 27: The Moon will be above Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation Taurus (the Bull).

Jan. 30: The Moon will again be between Jupiter to its lower right and to its left Pollux and Castor above Pollux, the bright twin stars in the constellation Gemini (the Twins).