Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 46
JANUARY 2018 OBSERVING
Sun, Moon & Planets by Fred Schaaf
Planetary Pairings
Be prepared to get up early this month to see the dance of the planets.
T
he first month of 2018 offers us no
bright planets until well after midnight - and normally brilliant Venus is
completely lost in solar glare on the far
side of the Sun. On the other hand, the
final hours of the nights and the cold
dawns are very exciting this January.
These chilly hours offer us two very
close and long-lasting conjunctions of
planets (Jupiter-Mars and Mercury-Saturn); the second half of a fine Mercury
apparition; and, at month's end, a total
eclipse of the Moon for observers across
much of North America.
EVENING
The only planets visible in the evening
sky all month are dim Uranus and even
dimmer Neptune. Look toward the
south-southwest after the end of evening twilight to best observe them. See
https://is.gd/urnep/ for finder charts for
Uranus and Neptune.
A LL N I G H T LO N G
Asteroid 1 Ceres arrives at opposition
on January 31st - in fact, within the
same hour as the total lunar eclipse,
when it will shine brighter than it has
in over five years. Keep an eye on Vesta
and Juno during 2018, for they will
undergo even more rare peaks in brightness as they reach opposition in June
and November, respectively.
PR E- DAW N
January kicks off with Jupiter and
Mars, initially only just over 2° apart,
rising together around 3 a.m. to
brighten the heavens. As the month
progresses, Jupiter's magnitude
increases from -1.8 to a very respect-
able -2.0, greatly outshining Mars,
which brightens from 1.5 to 1.2 during
that same period. For observers around
latitude 40° north, the pair are more
than 30° high in the south-southeast
by 45 minutes before sunrise. That may
be just high enough to get crisp images
of the planets' globes in telescopes,
but whereas Jupiter is 33″ wide in early
January and fattens to 36″ by the end
of the month, Mars is only about 5″
across. These two planets will be less
than 1° apart from January 5th to 8th
and make for a fascinating contrasting
pair in a telescopic field of view. This is
especially true at dawn on January 6th
in the Americas when only 1/3° separates
Jupiter from Mars!
Dawn, Jan 6
Dawn, Jan 10 -12
45 minutes before sunrise
1 hour before sunrise
` Lib
` Lib
Moon
Jan 11
_ Lib
Jan 5- 6
Jupiter
Around 1 am
Only :3°
apart!
1
_ Lib
Jupiter
Mars
10°
Moon
Jan 10
Mars
Moon
Jan 12
SCORPIUS
a
LEO
SCORPIUS
Moon
Jan 5
Antares
Antares
Regulus very close!
(occulted for parts
of Canada)
Denebola
Moon
Jan 6
Looking Southeast, high in the sky
46
JA N UA RY 2 018 * SK Y & TELESCOPE
Looking South-Southeast
Looking Southeast
https://www.is.gd/urnep/
Sky and Telescope - January 2018
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sky and Telescope - January 2018
Contents
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - Cover1
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - Cover2
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 1
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - Contents
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 3
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 4
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 5
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 6
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 7
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 8
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 9
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 10
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 11
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 12
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 13
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 14
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 15
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 16
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 17
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 18
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 19
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 20
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 21
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 22
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 23
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 24
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 25
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 26
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 27
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 28
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 29
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 30
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 31
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 32
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 33
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 34
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 35
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 36
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 37
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 38
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 39
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 40
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 41
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 42
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 43
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 44
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 45
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 46
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 47
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 48
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 49
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 50
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 51
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 52
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 53
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 54
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 55
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 56
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 57
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 58
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 59
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 60
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 61
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 62
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 63
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 64
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 65
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 66
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 67
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 68
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 69
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 70
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 71
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 72
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 73
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 74
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 75
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 76
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 77
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 78
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 79
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 80
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 81
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 82
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 83
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 84
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - Cover3
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - Cover4
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18SAL
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 90
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18S
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18SA
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18EAL
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 94
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18E
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18EA
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18RAL
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - 98
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18R
Sky and Telescope - January 2018 - SGA18RA
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com