Celestials shine bright in January sky, perfect for stargazing.
January offers several opportunities to witness rare celestial events and bright stars. On the first five days of 2025, the Quadrantid meteor shower will be visible with a peak of 40 shooting stars per hour. Astronomy enthusiasts can also observe the Beehive star cluster, appearing as yellow and white stars in the southern portion of the sky.
In addition to meteors and star clusters, planets are rising earlier and becoming more visible throughout the month. On January 3, Venus will appear on the bottom right side of the moon after sunset, while Saturn will be visible beneath and to the right of the moon on January 4. However, Mars is the main attraction in January.
Mars will be at its brightest and most prominent for the year, making it easy to spot with its bright red color. On January 13, a rare occultation will occur when Mars moves behind the moon. This event is expected to be visible in New York City. Three days later, Mars will appear fully illuminated by the sun.
Astronomy enthusiasts can take advantage of this opportunity at the Amateur Astronomers Association’s sidewalk event on January 7, where telescopes will be set up for attendees to explore the night sky. With clear skies and a bit of cold weather, stargazers can make the most of January’s celestial events.
Source: https://gothamist.com/news/new-yorkers-can-start-2025-with-a-meteor-shower-and-great-views-of-mars