While the Quadrantid meteor shower’s peak has already come and gone, stargazers are still in for a treat this month as five other events are set to pique your interest, according to NASA.
Here’s what to know.
What skywatching fun are we in for this month?
Jan. 13: The full Wolf moon will rise in the night sky and the moon will appear to pass in front of Mars.
Jan. 17-18: Venus and Saturn will come within just a couple degrees of each other after weeks of moving toward one another.
While the Quadrantid meteor shower’s peak has already come and gone, stargazers are still in for a treat this month as five other events are set to pique your interest, according to NASA.
All month: You’ll be able to see Venus and Saturn in the southwest, Jupiter high overhead and Mars in the east in the first couple hours after dark. According to NASA, seeing this many bright planets at once isn’t very common.
All month: Mars will be in opposition, meaning the planet is opposite the sun from Earth, or can be found in the east as night falls and in the southwest when the sun rises.
What to know about January’s full moon
January’s Wolf Moon will make its appearance on Monday, Jan. 13, 2025. The moon’s phases in January are:
-
🌓 First Quarter: Jan. 6
-
🌗 Last Quarter: Jan. 21
Why it’s called the Wolf Moon: Wolves were believed to howl more in January as the first few weeks of winter cloaked the ground in frost and snow, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
Other names for January’s full moon: Center Moon, Freeze Up Moon and the Hard Moon
When the Wolf Moon will rise in the Rochester area: Moonrise will happen by roughly 4:33 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, and will set at 7:54 a.m. Tuesday.
When the Wolf Moon will rise in the Westchester area: Moonrise will happen by roughly 4:26 p.m. Monday, Jan. 13, and will set at 7:29 a.m. Tuesday.
You can check moonrise and moonset times for your zip code by visiting the Old Farmer’s Almanac online.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: How to spot four planets each night in January’s night sky