Local Sky Events
December
Check back often for updates
- Moon is full Moon Jan 3rd, third quarter Jan 10th, new on Jan 18th and first quarter on Jan 26th.
- January 3rd the Earth passes through perihelion around 12:16 p.m. EST which will be its closest point to the Sun for 2026 at 91.4 million miles or 147 million kilometers.
- Mercury, Venus and Mars are not visible this month as they are in conjunction with the Sun - Venus on the 6th, and Mars on Jan 9.
- Jupiter dominates the evening sky shining bright in Gemini after it rises in the east northeast not long after sunset shining at magnitude -2.7. As it rises higher, the Galilean moons and Great Red Spot should be visible.
- Saturn is visible in the south southwest in Aquarius. Its rings are almost edge on making them a challenge to see, but allows better views of its moons. Presently, Saturn has 274 moons.
Check back often for updates
- Moon is full Moon Jan 3rd, third quarter Jan 10th, new on Jan 18th and first quarter on Jan 26th.
- January 3rd the Earth passes through perihelion around 12:16 p.m. EST which will be its closest point to the Sun for 2026 at 91.4 million miles or 147 million kilometers.
- Mercury, Venus and Mars are not visible this month as they are in conjunction with the Sun - Venus on the 6th, and Mars on Jan 9.
- Jupiter dominates the evening sky shining bright in Gemini after it rises in the east northeast not long after sunset shining at magnitude -2.7. As it rises higher, the Galilean moons and Great Red Spot should be visible.
- Saturn is visible in the south southwest in Aquarius. Its rings are almost edge on making them a challenge to see, but allows better views of its moons. Presently, Saturn has 274 moons.
See our Links page - Sky Watching - for other events.
See Sky and Telescope Magazine (The Sky at a Glance) for more events.