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The Brightest Objects in the Northern Night Sky in January of 2012

Stargazing can be a rewarding experience, but the number and type of visible astral bodies varies widely according to the Earth's rotation and the orbits of other objects. Fortunately, astronomers are able to measure and predict the paths that many of the night sky's objects will take, providing accurate predictions as to what will be visible and when, and astronomy predicts several noteworthy events for January 2012.

The Quadrantid Meteor Shower
- The Quadrantic Meteor Shower is highly visible at its peak.
  
  This meteor shower will be visible from January 1 to January 5. It peaks on January 3 and 4 and will be most visible when the first quarter moon sets after midnight. During this time, up to 40 meteors may be seen per hour. Optimal visibility will occur in rural areas, where light pollution from cities and roads can not interfere with night-sky viewing. Although the shower appears to radiate out of the constellation Bootes, individual meteors are seen streaking across the night sky.
The Full Moon
- The full moon is bright and low in January.
  
  The moon becomes full on January 9. At its fullest, the moon is the brightest visible object in the sky. It is seen near the horizon in the Northern sky during January, and sets during the morning hours after midnight. During this time, observers may witness the vast lava plains, known as seas, with the naked eye. Because of the moon's brightness, it may interfere with light from other celestial bodies, such as planets and stars, making them more difficult to view until it moves below the horizon.
Planets
- Jupiter is visible in the early night sky.
  
  Mars becomes bright throughout the month, reaching a distance of less than one AU from Earth on January 6 and achieving a high level of visibility as it passes through the constellations of Leo and Virgo. It is best seen after midnight and before dawn. In the Southern hemisphere, it will appear due north during this time. Jupiter is visible in the evening, between dusk and midnight, throughout the month, and the Serin Observatory at Rutgers University holds public viewing nights on January 12 and January 26 to view the gas giant.
Stars and Constellations
- Several bright stars are visible high in the Northern sky.
  
  One of the most recognizable constellations overhead in Winter is Orion, the Hunter. It appears as seven bright stars in roughly the shape of an hourglass. Although Orion appears midway up the sky above the Southern horizon, it is a good starting point from which an observer can orient herself. Looking high in the Northern sky, an observer can see the stars Castor and Pollux, which are the two brightest stars in the constellation Gemini. Still higher, and slightly toward the northwest, Auriga the Charioteer is visible with its bright star Capella. Capella is 12 times larger than the sun, and is about 45 degrees north of the Celestial Equator, making it one of the brightest stars in the Northern sky.

Astronomy