Sunrise Sunset

Fri., Jan. 23 7:01 4:45

Sat., Jan. 24 7:01 4:46

Sun., Jan. 25 7:00 4:48

Mon., Jan. 26 6:59 4:49

Tues., Jan. 27 6:58 4:50

Wed., Jan. 28 6:57 4:51

Thurs., Jan. 29 6:57 4:53

Fri., Jan. 30 6:56 4:54

With the moon in new moon phase on Monday, skies will be moonless this weekend, and ideal for stargazing. From sunset to nearly sunrise, through the weekend, the sky is without the brilliant moon to interfere. If the weather cooperates, even the faintest of stars will be viewable.

When was the last time you saw the Milky Way stretching from northwest to southeast? The brightest star of these nights is Sirius hanging low in the southeastern sky in the early evening.

Overhead are the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus and the many millions of stars that make up the Milky Way, which appear as a faint distant glowing cloud. The bright constellation Orion appears just outside of the cloud of stars. Orion is one of the closest group of stars to our solar system.

Venus and the Moon

The bright planet setting each night in the west is Venus. Venus is about as bright and as high as it gets in our evening sky. Venus is in the zodiacal constellation Pisces and it appears in the west hours after sunset.

The crescent moon appears low in the southwestern sky next Tuesday night. The moon is close to the horizon and sets soon after the sun. On Thursday the crescent moon appears near Venus.

The view will be beautiful, a pleasant winter spectacle in the western sky.

M.A.L.