Sky Guide January 2018

What to look out, and up, for in January!


Ralph, Paul & Jen pick their highlights for this month’s
skies; starting with the solar system objects on offer to
observers and imagers:


The Red Planet Mars, makes a welcome return to our skies

The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on the night of 3rd/4th
January

Dwarf planet Ceres is at opposition on 31st January in Cancer

Mercury is at greatest wester elongation on 2nd January

And comet C/2017 T1 Heinze reaches mag 7-9 on 6th January



Next up, we take a deep sky pick from our list of favourites for
this time of year:


Ralph – Messier 42, the Great Nebula in Orion

Jen – NGC 2244 and the Rosette Nebula in Monoceros.

Paul – NCG 2903, Barred Spiral Galaxy in Leo



And we finish this sky guide with January’s moon phases.