Feature Article January 8, 2003
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Night Skies for January, 2004
Five Bright Planets and a Repeat of the Christmas Conjunction
Just as the times of sunset changed only slightly during December, with the earliest sunset occurring on December 10, so also the times of sunrise change only slightly over the course of the month of January, with the latest sunrise of the entire winter (at this latitude) being at about 7:48 a.m. on January 3. The times of sunset are steadily moving later from the 4:33 p.m. sunset on New Years Day.
Besides learning that the dates of earliest sunset and of latest sunrise do not occur on the date of the December solstice, many people are also surprised to learn that the date in the year when the Earth is closest to the sun is also in early January. This year, that date, called the Perihelion Date, is January 4, when the Earth is about 147 million kilometres from the sun. At the opposite extreme in its orbit around the sun, on July 4, of this year, which is the Aphelion Date, the Earth will be slightly over 152 million kilometres from the sun. This difference of only about 3 % in total distance from the sun is not something that is readily apparent; it is certainly and obviously not something that immediately affects climate or weather, since there are many more factors in our geography and environment that have a far greater effect on our climate and weather.
In the night sky the Great Hunter Orion, surrounded by his distinctive retinue of brilliant companion-stars, continues to dominate the southeastern sky in the early evening and the southern sky in the later evening. With the distinctive pattern of the three belt-stars, the shoulder-stars Betelgeuse and Bellatrix, and the knee-stars Saif and Rigel, Orion is unmistakable. In a straight line to the left from his belt, we easily see the constellation Canis Major, Orions Great Dog with the eye-star Sirius, which is the brightest star in the sky. Slightly behind and above it is the other dog, Canis Minor, with the brilliant star Procyon to mark its head. Completing a huge semi-circle of stars to the left of Orion are Castor and Pollux, the Gemini pair, which are found above Procyon. Up and to the right in a straight line from Orions Belt is the very red star Aldebaran, the brightest in the large cluster of stars that form the Head of Taurus, the Bull, located above a string of equally bright stars outlining the raised arm and shield of the hunter, who is protecting himself from the charging bull that he attempts to hit with his club in the raised arm outlined by stars on the other side of his body. Two more often-neglected constellations are in this area of the sky. Below Orion is the constellation Lepus, the Rabbit, where four stars below Rigel, in a pattern that is almost a square, outline the creatures head. Below Taurus, to the right of Orion and extending down to the southern horizon is a huge winding sting of stars called Eridanus, the Great River. None of its stars visible from Canada is as bright as Rigel or Betelgeuse, but those who travel to southern climes, such as Florida and Mexico, can see the star Achernar at the southern mouth of this great river, a star that is just as bright as Betelgeuse.
Among the planets, reddish Mars is still seen high in the southwestern evening sky, but it is steadily losing some the brightness that it had during the past summer and autumn. Much more dominant in the southwestern sky for over 2 hours after sunset is the absolutely brilliant planet Venus, which becomes even slightly brighter as the month progresses. Saturn, found in the middle of the constellation Gemini, mentioned previously, rises in the east during twilight, and is in the sky all night. Jupiter, which is surprisingly bright and in the constellation Leo the Lion, rises in late evening and dominates the eastern sky for most of the night. Observers with a good view of the southeastern horizon should be able to see Mercury quite easily during morning twilight for about an hour before sunrise during the last three weeks of the month.
Try to watch the moon when it is near the planets this month. On the nights of Jan. 6 and 7 the Full Moon was above and to the left from Saturn. On Jan. 11, the moon is not far from Jupiter. A very beautiful sight for those who have good viewing conditions before sunrise on Jan. 19 is the slim crescent moon to the right of the planet Mercury. On the evenings of Jan. 23 and 24, do not miss the spectacular views of the night skys two brightest objects so close together; they will be a repeat of the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day sights of a month (minus one day) ago. The first night low in the west 45 minutes after sunset, the crescent moon will be below Venus; the second night it will be just to the left of Venus. On Jan. 27 the crescent moon will appear below and to the left of Mars.
More information about observing winter stars and constellations is to be found in The Beginners Observing Guide, available at Sharbot Lake Pharmacy. I extend warm wishes to all readers for a Happy New Year, and clear, unpolluted, dark night skies in 2004!
