This year’s farthest apogee (moon’s farthest monthly point) comes on February 5, 2019, and the closest perigee (moon’s closest monthly point) occurs some 2 weeks later, on February 19, 2019.

Why was Mars brighter in our sky in 2018 than since 2003? And why is it so much fainter now? What about the rest of this year? Will Mars brighten again in 2019?

Sun-entry dates to zodiac constellations in 2019, using boundaries for constellations set by the International Astronomical Union in the 1930s.

The longest lunar month in 2019 starts with the new moon on January 6, and concludes with the new moon on February 4. Its duration will be 29 days 19 hours and 35 minutes.

Dates of all solar and lunar eclipses this year. Is there one you can see?

Safe – and unsafe – solar eclipse viewing methods. Order your eclipse glasses now!

In January 2019, the 2 bright planets up before the sun are Venus (brighter) and Jupiter! Mars is the sole bright evening planet. Mercury fades from view as a morning planet in early January. Saturn becomes visible before sunup near the month’s end.

Astronomer Guy Ottewell has developed a novel way of picturing ourselves riding on Earth, orbiting the sun. See those past-and-future Earths as we look backward at the old year – and forward into the new – here.