Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Jan. 15 7:06 4:35

Sat., Jan. 16 7:06 4:37

Sun., Jan. 17 7:05 4:38

Mon., Jan. 18 7:05 4:39

Tues., Jan. 19 7:04 4:40

Wed., Jan. 20 7:03 4:41

Thurs., Jan. 21 7:03 4:43

Fri., Jan. 22 7:02 4:44

If skies are clear, stargazing will be great into next week. Tonight will be moonless; the moon is in the New Moon phase and too close to the sun to be seen. The moon won’t interfere until late in the week.

The thin crescent moon appears only briefly low in the southwestern sky tomorrow night, right after sunset. More Vineyarders will see the moon low in the southwestern sky Sunday night when it appears close to the bright planet Jupiter. The two are in between the zodiacal constellations Capricornus and Aquarius.

On Monday night the moon is higher in the sky and visible longer.

The moon’s brilliance often interferes and overpowers the faint light of distant stars, especially the Milky Way. As the moon gets more prominent in the night sky, stargazing is more challenging. The moon is first quarter phase on Jan. 23.

Mars

The red planet Mars appears high in the eastern sky at 10 p.m. It passes nearly overhead at 1 o’clock in the morning. Mars is the brightest celestial in our night sky, its ruby red color distinguishing it from all others. Only Betelguese, the bright red star in Orion, comes close to looking like the nearby red planet.

M.A.L.