The waxing crescent moon and the dazzling planet Venus are the first two celestial lights to appear after sunset on January 25, 2012. Look low in the west to see the shining pair at dusk and early evening.
Millions around the world noticed these same two objects a month ago, when the moon swept past Venus in the western twilight sky. EarthSky’s Facebook friends captured some amazing photos of the pair, which dazzled viewers for the two nights after Christmas 2011 – just as they will dazzle you tonight and tomorrow night if you look for them in the twilight sky.
Favorite photos of moon and Venus December 26 and 27, 2011
Moon and Venus closest for month on evening of January 26
Moon and Venus on December 26, 2011. Via Mohamed Laaifat in Caen, Normandy
And the scene for us in this month of January 2012 is even better than it was last month! Now the planet Jupiter has edged noticeably close to Venus. You can notice Jupiter tonight, of course, but by January 27, the moon will be in between Venus and Jupiter.
Moon between Venus and Jupiter on January 27, 2012
After the sun, the moon and Venus rank as the second- and third-brightest heavenly bodies, respectively. Jupiter is the fourth-brightest object. When these brilliant sky objects get together, people across Earth’s entire globe spot them and gaze with wonder. Since the moon is a slim crescent now, you might glimpse a pale glow – called earthshine – on its darkened portion.
When can you see earthshine on a crescent moon?
Don’t wait too long after sunset, if you wish to catch Venus and the moon. From most places worldwide, the moon will follow the sun beneath the horizon first, at dusk or early evening. Venus will set an hour or two after dark. Although the lunar crescent and Venus shine fairly close together this evening, most places around the world will see these two shining orbs closest together tomorrow, on the evening of Thursday, January 26, 2012.
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If you have binoculars, be sure to grab them. Scan the moon’s terminator – the shadow line dividing the lunar day from the lunar night. The best view of the lunar landscape is found along the terminator, or where it’s sunrise on the waxing moon. By the way, the best time to observe with binoculars is during twilight, before the sky becomes very dark and the moon too contrasty and bright.
With or without optics, enjoy the grand attraction after sunset: the moon and Venus on January 25 and 26, 2012!
A new comet ( Comet Lovejoy ) named after an Australian astronomer , can be seen in the constellation Scutum and it works its way north where it can be seen in the Northern Hemisphere in April in binoculars or small telescope ( forgot which constellation, but try Leo ).
the sky on jan 25
40 minutes after sunset, cool winter breeze, pink line over the horizon, thin Moon a bit below shiny Venus to the west, Jupiter above, Sirius coming up to the southeast… a beautiful after-sunset twilight winter view, I noticed all this just standing on my balcony, thanks to Earthsky, in fact most of what I go see in the sky is usually based on what I read every day on this wonderful site! Thanks for making it happen!