Planets & Stars Visible Tonight: January 2024 Night Sky Maps

Looking to explore what planets and stars are visible in the nights of January 2024? Here are some of the best celestial objects to observe with the naked eye, binoculars, or a small telescope in the northern hemisphere.

The night sky is always changing, as the Earth orbits the Sun, and the Moon orbits the Earth. The positions of the stars and planets also shift slightly over time, due to their own motions in space. This means that every month, there are different constellations, planets and stars to look for in the sky.

Some of the objects in the sky are visible to the naked eye, while others require binoculars or a telescope to see more details. We will focus on the visible planets and brighter stars and formations that you can see without any equipment. We will also mention some deep space objects that you can explore with a telescope if you have one.

Main Astronomical Highlights in the Night Sky for December 2023

January 3-4 at 1.00 AM: Quadrantid Meteor Shower
January 8 at 5.00 AM: Venus at dawn
January 8 at 11.00 PM: Saturn in Aquarius
January 8 at 4.30 PM: Lunar occultation of Antares
January 9 at 5.00 AM: Crescent Moon near Venus
January 13 and 14 at 5.00 AM: Saturn near the Moon
January 18 at 10.00 PM: Jupiter near the Moon
January 25 at 8.00 PM: Full Wolf Moon
January 27 at 5.00 AM: Mars and Mercury at dawn
All January at about 9.00 PM: Capella in Auriga (Winter Triangle)
All January at about 8.00 PM: Betelgeuse & Rigel in Orion
All January at about 9.00 PM: Aldebaran in Taurus

Celestial Delights: What to See in the Night Sky for January 2024

Prepare to be enchanted by the celestial ballet unfolding in the January night sky. From the luminous planets to the twinkling stars and meteoric displays, the cosmic stage is set for an awe-inspiring spectacle. Let’s dive into the astral panorama that awaits us in the first month of 2024.

Venus and Saturn
Step outside before dawn to witness Venus, the jewel of the morning sky, at its peak luminosity on January 8, adorned with a captivating 47% illumination by the Sun. As daylight fades, cast your gaze southwest to catch a glimpse of the ringed majesty, Saturn, in the constellation Aquarius. A telescope unveils the splendor of Saturn’s rings, tilted at an angle for optimal viewing. On January 23, Saturn gracefully performs a cosmic waltz, aligning itself with the Sun.

Moon Meets Saturn
In the evening 6.30 pm hours of January 13 and 14, the Moon and Saturn engage in a celestial rendezvous, with the Moon dancing above and below Saturn in the southeastern sky. Binoculars or a telescope reveal Saturn’s entourage, including moons like Titan, Rhea, Dione, and Tethys.

Jupiter
On January 18, the waxing gibbous Moon partners with the regal Jupiter in a celestial pas de deux. look SW. Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, showcases its entourage—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—along with captivating cloud bands of various colors and temperatures.

Mars and Mercury
On the morning of January 27, the elusive Mars and swift Mercury make a challenging appearance on the cosmic stage. With a clear horizon and possibly binoculars, witness Mars, dim and distant, and Mercury at its greatest western elongation, outshining its Martian counterpart.

Stars & Constellations to See in December

January is also a good month to see some of the stars and constellations that highlight the winter night sky. In the northern hemisphere, you can see the Winter Circle. This asterism is visible for much of the night in the northern hemisphere when it is high in the sky at mid-northern latitudes, from December to March.

It consists of the stars Sirius in Canis Major, Betelgeuse in Orion, and Procyon in Canis Minor. The best time to view The Winter Triangle is in the early evening.

Betelgeuse and Rigel in Orion

Betelgeuse, a variable red supergiant, emanates its fiery glow in the constellation Orion. Rising in the east around 6 pm and reaching its highest point around 10 pm, Betelgeuse is a key player in the Winter Triangle and Winter Hexagon asterisms. looking SE

Rigel, a blue-white supergiant, illuminates the constellation Orion’s eastern sky every night in January. As the brightest star in Orion, it forms one of its shoulders and contributes to the Winter Hexagon asterism.

Aldebaran: Taurus’ Brightest Star and Hyades Marker

Aldebaran, an orange giant star, commands attention in Taurus, rising in the east around 5 pm and reaching its zenith around 9 pm. A part of the Winter Hexagon, Aldebaran marks the tip of one of the horns of the V-shaped Hyades star cluster.

Capella: The Yellow Giant in Auriga’s Chariot

Capella, a yellow giant star, graces the constellation Auriga, rising in the northeast around 5 pm and reaching its zenith in the north around midnight. As the sixth-brightest star in the night sky, Capella forms one of the horns of Auriga’s goat.

Asterisms: Little Dipper, Big Dipper, Cassiopeia’s Chair & the Sickle in the January Night Sky

On the night of January 20th, gaze northeast for a celestial treat featuring the Little Dipper, Big Dipper, Cassiopeia’s Chair, and the Sickle constellation. The Little Dipper, often overlooked next to its more famous sibling, the Big Dipper, will reveal its delicate star arrangement, including the North Star, Polaris.

The Big Dipper, with its ladle shape, is a familiar guide for navigating the night sky. Cassiopeia’s Chair, forming a distinctive “W” or “M,” adds a regal touch, while the Sickle, part of Leo the Lion, enhances the scene.

Quadrantids Meteor Shower: A Cosmic Ballet Tinged by Moonlight

As stargazers eagerly anticipate the Quadrantids Meteor Shower on the nights of January 3 and 4, 2024, a cosmic challenge unfolds. This annual meteoric display is known for its peak rate of about 120 meteors per hour under optimal conditions. This year it appears alongside a last quarter moon. The moon, nearing the end of its lunar cycle, bathes the night sky in its soft glow, casting a luminous veil that may slightly dim the visibility of the meteors.

The key to maximizing the experience lies in waiting until after 1 am, when the radiant—the point from which the meteors appear to originate—is positioned above the horizon. The radiant is just under the big dipper asterism looking northeast. And it will be to the left of the star Arcturus.

Despite the moon, observers can still catch glimpses of Quadrantid meteors piercing through the lunar radiance.

Full Wolf Moon: January 25th

On the night of January 25th, the lunar spectacle takes center stage as the first full moon of 2024 graces the sky, known affectionately as the Wolf Moon. This celestial event carries a rich cultural significance, drawing from Native American traditions that associate the January full moon with the howling of wolves in the cold winter nights.

Planets Visible Tonight in North America (Approximate Times)

What Planets Are Visible (Evenings/Nights)

On January evenings and nights, Saturn, Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury are visible in the night sky.
Saturn: Will be visible in the evenings until January 18. Its yellowish dot will appear in the lower part of the southwestern sky at dusk, climb to its highest point due south at 7:45 p.m. local time, and then set in the west around 12:45 a.m.
Jupiter: The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter, will be visible in the evenings until January 31. It will be at its brightest from December 11 to January 23. You can use binoculars to view its moons.
Mercury: Mercury is at greatest western elongation on January 24th. It will be visible in the mornings from January 10 to February 7.
Venus: In the evenings of January 2024, watch Venus as it approaches the bright star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. On January 28, Venus will be only 1.5 degrees away from Antares, creating a striking contrast of colors. Venus will set earlier each night, losing about a minute of visibility per day. At the start of the month, Venus will set around 7 p.m. local time, and by the end of the month, it will set around 6 p.m.
Mars: Mars will be too close to the sun to be visible in January. It passed behind the sun on November 18, and won’t be visible again until it reappears in the east before sunrise in early 2024.

What Planets Are Visible (Mornings)

Venus: In January, Venus remains the brightest object in the morning sky. On the morning of January 7, 2024, look for the stunning conjunction of the waning crescent moon and Venus in the southeast before sunrise.
Mercury: In January, Mercury is visible in the morning sky for the first half of the month. It reaches its greatest western elongation on January 14, 2024, when it appears about 19 degrees from the sun. Look for it low in the southeast before dawn.
Saturn: In January, Saturn is too close to the sun to be seen in the morning sky. It will reappear in the evening sky later in February.
Jupiter: Visible in the morning sky for most of the month. It rises around 3 am at the beginning of the month and around 1 am by the end of the month. Look for it in the east before dawn.

How to See Mars in January 2024

Mars is one of the most dazzling planets in the night sky, but in January 2024, it will still be challenging to spot. This is because Mars was in conjunction with the Sun in November 2023, meaning it was on the far side of the Sun from Earth.

Mars has a longer orbital period than Earth, so it takes more time to circle the Sun. As a consequence, Mars shifts from being visible in the evening to being visible in the morning every two years. In late January 2024, Mars will rise higher in the east-southeastern horizon before sunrise. But we have to wait until mid-2024 before we get a clearer view of Mars.

The Best Planets & Stars to Look at Through Binoculars in January 2024 Night Sky

The night sky in January 2024 offers a wonderful opportunity to see some of the best planets and stars with binoculars. Here are some of the highlights you don’t want to miss.

If you are looking for planets, you can catch a glimpse of Jupiter and Saturn in the early evening sky, as they are still close together after their great conjunction in December 2020. You can see their moons and rings with binoculars, as well as some of their cloud bands and storms. You can also see Mars, which is fading in brightness but still visible in the western sky. You can spot its reddish color and some of its surface features with binoculars.

If you are looking for stars, you can enjoy the winter hexagon, a large asterism formed by six bright stars from different constellations. You can see Capella, the brightest star in Auriga, the charioteer; Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus, the bull; Rigel, the foot of Orion, the hunter; Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky and the nose of Canis Major, the big dog; Procyon, the brightest star in Canis Minor, the little dog; and Pollux, one of the twins in Gemini. You can also see many star clusters, nebulae and galaxies within and around the winter hexagon with binoculars.

Bottom Line on What Planets & Stars Are Visible in the January 2024 Night Sky

January offers a stellar show for skywatchers and astronomy lovers alike. Mercury and Saturn kick off the month with a stunning conjunction, a close encounter in the western horizon. As the month unfolds, the Moon joins the planetary pair, creating a striking celestial triangle on January 5-6.

On January 12, early birds will be rewarded with the splendid sight of the crescent Moon and Venus, adding a touch of beauty to the morning. Mid-month, the Quadrantid meteor shower reaches its peak on January 16, promising a dazzling display of shooting stars zipping across the night sky.

Planetary meetings continue to delight observers throughout January. Jupiter shines bright on January 20 in close proximity to the Moon, followed by Mars’s celestial dance near the Moon on January 24-25.

Familiar Constellations

As the new year begins, the night sky offers us a splendid spectacle of planetary events and familiar constellations. The Winter Triangle, composed of the bright stars Betelgeuse, Sirius, and Procyon, continues to shine in the winter sky, forming a celestial triangle that inspires wonder and awe. Moreover, Ursa Major and Cassiopeia, two easily recognizable constellations, remain visible throughout the night, serving as reliable guides for sky watchers in January.

January 2024 welcomes us with a celestial display rich in planetary conjunctions, lunar phases, and the timeless beauty of constellations. Whether you’re an experienced astronomer or a curious observer of the night sky, take a moment to look up and be amazed by the wonders unfolding above you during this marvelous month.

Stargazing Tips

First and foremost, make sure you find an appropriate time to stargaze. After sunset is usually the most convenient time. This guide will show you many wonderful objects to stargaze at during late evening. Early morning is more spectacular. There is less light pollution, even in cities as people have put their outside lights off. However, it’s always a good idea to check local weather conditions before venturing outside — a cloudy or windy night can make viewing less enjoyable.

If you don’t have access to a telescope or binoculars, there are other ways to enjoy the night sky. For example, using an app that provides information on stars and planets such as SkyGuide will help you locate them in space. And lastly, dress warmly! Even on a clear winter evening temperatures can drop below freezing at night.

---

By Master Influencer Magazine Science & Technology Staff

Star charts and astronomical information are based on software estimated views for mid-northern latitude locations such as the United States of America, Canada, Europe & Northern Asia.

Published 8:38 PM EDT, Tuesday January 02, 2024

Keywords

Stargazing, Night Sky Watching, Binoculars, Capella, Aldebaran, Betelgeuse, Rigel, Mars, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Winter Circle, Quadrantids Meteor Shower, Venus, Full Wolf Moon, Orion, Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, The Sickle, Little Dipper, Big Dipper

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Advertised Business Content

Advertisement