Each Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere). Check my main feed for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and more.
The Night Sky This Week: Jan. 20-26, 2025
From dark evening skies perfect for stargazing to a very (very) close conjunction of the moon and bright star Spica, here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and astronomy this week:
Monday, Jan. 20: Moon And Spica
Around midnight tonight in the east, a 55%-lit waning gibbous moon will be just a tenth of a degree from Spica, the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo and about 250 light-years distant. The moon will be in close conjunction with Spica every month in 2025, but this one is the nearest.
Tuesday, Jan. 21: Last Quarter Moon
Today will see a Last-Quarter (or Third-Quarter) Moon, which will appear half-illuminated and rise around midnight. The moon’s rising and setting times shift later by about 50 minutes each night, which means this weekend will feature moonless nights.
Thursday, Jan. 23: Mars Meets ‘The Twins’
Look south anytime after dark, and you’ll see the red planet Mars just a couple of degrees from bright star Pollux in Gemini, with the other “twin” of Gemini, Castor, close by. At 34 and 51 light-years distant, these star systems are in the sun’s neighborhood. Pollux is a single giant star nine times the radius of the sun with one confirmed exoplanet in orbit, while Castor is not one, but six stars.
Friday, Jan. 24: Moon And Antares In Conjunction
This morning, rising in the east about three hours before sunrise will be a 26%-lit waning crescent moon barely a third of a degree from Antares, the “Heart of the Scorpion” in the constellation of Scorpius. A red supergiant star 12 times the mass of the sun, Antares is one of the biggest stars we know of.
Distinctly orangey-red to the observer (primarily through binoculars) and known as the “rival of Mars” because of its rosy color and because Mars passes it closely every 26 months. If you put it in the solar system, it would reach almost as far as to where Jupiter orbits.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
