Astro-Calendar: 2021 Jan. / Circle of Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury

 

Last month Jupiter and Saturn provided a Great Conjunction to evening viewers. Jupiter and Saturn are still nearby, joined by Mercury in mid-January for a Circle of Planets (2.3-degree Circle peaks Sun., Jan. 10, 7:00 a.m. EST / 12:00 UTC, but only visible just after local sunset). Mercury, always near the Sun and setting shortly after local sunset, can only be seen shortly after sunset in the west-southwest sky. This Circle of Planets will set around 6:00 p.m. local time. So, try to find it as soon as it gets dark.

Later in the month, around January 21, also in the southwestern sky shortly after sunset can be seen the waxing gibbous Moon sliding past a conjunction of Mars and Uranus. Uranus is very dim; binoculars or a telescope may be necessary.

Remember, all celestial observations are weather-permitting.

More information: Link >>> https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

(Graphic Source: EarthSky.org)

Astronomical Calendar for 2021 January ---
Link >>> https://buhlplanetarium4.tripod.com/astrocalendar/2021.html#jan

 Related Blog Post ---

"Astro-Calendar: 2020 Dec. / Great Conjunction: Jupiter & Saturn on Winter Solstice."

Tuesday, 2020 December 1 .

Link >>> https://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2020/12/astro-calendar-2020-dec-great.html

Source: Friends of the Zeiss.
            Monday, 2021 January 4.

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gaw

Glenn A. Walsh, Informal Science Educator & Communicator:
Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium2.tripod.com/weblog/spacewatchtower/gaw/
Electronic Mail: < gawalsh@planetarium.cc >
Project Director, Friends of the Zeiss: Link >>> http://buhlplanetarium.tripod.com/fotz/
SpaceWatchtower Editor / Author: Link >>> http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/
Formerly Astronomical Observatory Coordinator & Planetarium Lecturer, original Buhl Planetarium & Institute of Popular Science (a.k.a. Buhl Science Center), Pittsburgh's science & technology museum from 1939 to 1991.
Formerly Trustee, Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, Pittsburgh suburb of Carnegie, Pennsylvania.
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh: Link >>>  http://www.planetarium.cc  Buhl Observatory: Link >>>  http://spacewatchtower.blogspot.com/2016/11/75th-anniversary-americas-5th-public.html
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago: Link >>> http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com
* Astronomer, Educator, Optician John A. Brashear: Link >>> http://johnbrashear.tripod.com
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries: Link >>> http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc