Friday, January 10, 2025

Bright Moon Joins Jupiter (all night)

At dusk on Friday, January 10, look to the east for the brilliant planet Jupiter shining several finger widths to the lower right (or celestial south) of the bright, waxing gibbous moon - cozy enough to share the view in binoculars. The duo will make a lovely photo opportunity when composed with some nice foreground scenery. As the moon and Jupiter climb higher, the bright stars of winter will appear around them, particularly yellowish Capella on their upper left (celestial north) and reddish Aldebaran to their right (celestial south). Both stars are part of the huge winter hexagon asterism.
The moon and Jupiter will culminate due south around 9:30 p.m. local time and set in the west before dawn on Saturday morning. By then the diurnal rotation of the sky will lift the moon above Jupiter. Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation (after sunset)

On Friday, January 10, Venus will officially reach its widest separation of 47 degrees east of the sun. Viewed in a telescope (inset), the planet will
exhibit a half-illuminated phase. For best results, observe Venus during evening twilight when the contrast between the bright planet and the surrounding sky is lower. After Friday, our sister planet will continue to brighten and increase in apparent disk diameter as it swings sunward for its inferior solar conjunction in late March.

(Data courtesy of Starry Night)
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