Stars over Sisters

The new year brings moon-lovers a treat: seeing the moon enter its first quarter twice in one month.

The month will start off with the moon in its first quarter on January 1. This means the moon's right half will be illuminated. The moon will wax into its full phase, where its entire surface will be lit up, on January 9. By January 16 the moon will wane into its third quarter, where only the left half of the surface is illuminated. The sky will become dark and moonless then when the new moon occurs on January 23. Finally, as a treat, the moon will again enter its first quarter to end the month on January 31.

The Quadrantids meteor shower will peak in the pre-dawn hours of January 4, when up to 40 meteors can be seen per hour. The meteors will appear to radiate from the constellation of Bootes. To find Bootes, look for the Big Dipper in the northern sky. Follow the arc of the Big Dipper's handle and it will lead you to Arcturus, which is the brightest star in Bootes.

The planet Saturn, also found in the early morning sky, will spend the entire month of January in the constellation of Virgo, near the star Spica. To find them, continue to follow the arc of the Big Dipper's handle southward beyond Arcturus and down to Spica.

Although still a brilliant beacon high in the evening sky, the planet Jupiter no longer reigns supreme. An even brighter Venus continues its slow ascent in the west throughout the month. And a dimmer, but brightening, Mars becomes an evening object this month.

The month of January is the best time to view the well-known constellation of Orion. According to Greek mythology, Orion became the greatest hunter in the world and boasted that he could kill any animal. However, in response, a single scorpion caused his death. The gods felt sorry for Orion and put him in the heavens, but on the opposite side of the sky from Scorpius, the scorpion.

You can easily locate the three bright stars that make up Orion's belt in the southern sky. His eastern shoulder is marked by Betelgeuse, a red giant star; and Rigel, a blue-white supergiant, denotes his western-most leg. Below his belt are a row of stars making up his sword. This is also the location of the Orion Nebula, one of the brightest nebulas in the sky, and it can be seen with the naked eye. The Orion Nebula consists of a collection of gas and dust where new stars are being born.

To learn more about astronomy, join the Sisters Astronomy Club at their next meeting on Tuesday, January 17, at 7 p.m. at the Sisters Park & Recreation District's Coffield Center.