West Coast Astro LogoWest Coast Astro

JANUARY 2026 (Northern Hemisphere)

1Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 21:39 UT (distance 360,348km; angular size 33.2′).
2Moon near M35 Cluster at 18h UT (evening sky).
3Full Moon at 10:03 UT.
3Earth at Perihelion (closest to Sun) at 17h UT. The Sun-Earth distance is 0.983302 a.u. (147.1 million kilometers).
• Sun at Aphelion and Perihelion (Anthony Ayiomamitis)
3Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks at 21h UT. Active between December 28 and January 12. Expect up to 25 meteors per hour under dark skies. Radiant is in northern Boötes. Northern hemisphere only. Moonlight interferes.
• Quadrantids (Wikipedia)
• Quadrantids (American Meteor Society)
• 2026 Meteor Shower Calendar (PDF) (International Meteor Organization)
3Moon near Castor at 23h UT (morning sky).
4Moon near Jupiter at 0h UT (morning sky). Mag. −2.7.
4Moon near Pollux at 4h UT (morning sky).
5Moon near Beehive Cluster (M44) at 4h UT (morning sky).
6Venus at superior conjunction with the Sun at 16h UT (not visible). The brightest planet passes into the evening sky.
6Moon near Regulus at 18h UT (morning sky).
6Mercury at southernmost declination (−24.4°) at 21h UT (morning sky). Mag. −0.2.
9Mars at conjunction with the Sun at 12h UT. Mars passes into the morning sky.
10Jupiter at opposition at 9h UT. This is the best time to view the largest planet in the Solar System. Mag. −2.7.
10Last Quarter Moon at 15:48 UT.
11Moon near Spica at 0h UT (morning sky).
13Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 21h UT (distance 405,438km; angular size 29.5′).
14Moon near Antares at 21h UT ( morning sky).
18New Moon at 19:52 UT. Start of lunation 1275.
21Mercury at superior conjunction with the Sun at 16h UT (not visible). The innermost planet passes into the evening sky.
23Pluto at conjunction with the Sun at 2h UT. Pluto passes into the morning sky.
23Moon near Saturn at 10h UT (evening sky). Mag. 1.2.
26First Quarter Moon at 4:47 UT.
27Moon near the Pleiades at 22h UT (evening sky).
29Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 21:46 UT (distance 365,871km; angular size 32.7′).
30Moon near M35 Cluster at 3h UT (evening sky).
31Moon near Jupiter at 4h UT (evening sky). Mag. −2.6.
31Moon near Castor at 9h UT (evening sky).
31Moon near Pollux at 14h UT (evening sky).
  • US Eastern Standard Time = UT − 5 hours.
  • US Pacific Standard Time = UT − 8 hours.
  • Australian Eastern Daylight Time = UT + 11 hours
  • Singapore Standard Time = UT + 8 hours.

More sky events and links at http://Skymaps.com/skycalendar/

Visit my YouTube Page for captures of many of the Night Sky events for each month.