The new moon will occur on January 18 at 2:52 p.m. EST. During a new moon, the sun and the moon align, making the moon nearly invisible from Earth because its illuminated side faces away from us.
When the moon is new, nights become darker. This lack of moonlight is great for stargazing, especially for spotting fainter stars and nebulae. If you find yourself away from city lights, this is your chance to see the cosmos more clearly.
On the same night, January 18, two planets will be visible: Saturn and Jupiter. Saturn will be in the southwestern sky by around 6 p.m., while Jupiter will rise in the east at approximately 3:58 p.m. In New York, around 6 p.m., you can see Jupiter about 21 degrees high. It’s notably bright, making it easy to recognize among the stars. Saturn, on the other hand, will be seen sitting about 37 degrees above the horizon.
Sadly, Mercury, Venus, and Mars will be too close to the sun to see. They’ll peek out in the following weeks, with Mercury showing up as an evening star in February, Venus in March, and Mars also appearing later in the spring.
Speaking of stars, if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere during January, winter constellations are twinkling brightly. At around 7 p.m. in New York, expect to see Orion, Gemini, Taurus, and others coming to life in the sky. The star Sirius shines as the brightest in the sky, located in the constellation Canis Major.
To spot Jupiter, look towards Gemini. Castor and Pollux will sit to its left. A bright star nearby is Procyon, part of Canis Minor. As you gaze higher, you’ll find Orion, identifiable by the three stars that form its belt. Not far, you can also catch a glimpse of the Orion Nebula within Orion’s sword, especially on a moonless night.
For those in the Southern Hemisphere, you’ll have a different view. During January, the constellations Puppis, Carina, and Vela will be prominent. Keep an eye out for Jupiter, too. In Santiago, for instance, it gets dark around 9:30 p.m., and you’ll see these constellations rising in the east.
If you want to know more about visibility and the positions of celestial bodies, the U.S. Naval Observatory offers detailed information. Each month brings new chances to enjoy the night sky. It’s a hobby worth exploring whether you’re a seasoned observer or a curious newbie!
