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A LATITUDE OF 40
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M81

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M36

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All times in Universal Time (UT). (USA Eastern Standard Time = UT 5 hours.)

NO

30
31

Jup

MO

26
29
30

CANIS
MINOR

16
17
19
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JANUARY 2014

New Moon at 11:14 UT. Start of lunation 1126.

Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 21h UT (356,923 km;
angular size 33.5').
Moon near Venus (15 from Sun, evening sky) at 11h UT. Mag. 4.3.
Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks at 19h UT. Active
between December 28 and January 12. Produces up to 120
meteors per hour. Radiant is in northern Botes.
Earth at Perihelion (closest to Sun) at 12h UT. The
Sun-Earth distance is 0.983335 a.u. or 147.1 million
kilometers.
Jupiter at opposition at 21h UT. Best time to observe
EC
LI
the largest planet in the solar system. Mag. 2.7.
PT
IC
First Quarter Moon at 3:39 UT.
Venus at inferior conjunction with the Sun at
12h UT. The planet passes into the morning sky.
Moon near the Pleiades (evening sky) at 12h UT.
Moon near Aldebaran (evening sky) at 9h UT.
Moon near Jupiter (evening sky) at 5h UT. Mag. 2.7.
Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 2h UT
(distance 406,532 km; angular size 29.4').
Full Moon at 4:52 UT.
Moon near Beehive Cluster (morning sky) at 4h UT.
Moon near Regulus (morning sky) at 2h UT.
Moon near Mars (morning sky) at 4h UT. Mag. +0.4.
Moon near Spica (morning sky) at 10h UT.
Last Quarter Moon at 5:20 UT.
Moon very near Saturn (73 from Sun, morning sky) at
14h UT. Mag. +0.6. Occultation visible along a path
between New Zealand and southern South America.
Moon near Antares (morning sky) at 19h UT.
Moon near Venus (26 from Sun, morning sky) at 3h UT. Mag. 4.5.
Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 10h UT (357,080 km;
angular size 33.5').
B
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New Moon at 21:39 UT. Start of lunation 1127.
IN
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Mercury at greatest elongation, 18 E of Sun (evening sky) at 10h UT. Mag. 0.5. BY U rion

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

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Star Magnitudes

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Tips for Observing the Night Sky

When observing the night sky, and in particular deep-sky objects such as star clusters,
nebulae, and galaxies, its always best to observe from a dark location. Avoid direct
light from street lights and other sources. If possible observe from a dark location
away from the light pollution that surrounds many of todays large cities.
You will see more stars after your eyes adapt to the darknessusually about 10 to
20 minutes after you go outside. Also, if you need to use a torch to view the sky
map, cover the light bulb with red cellophane. This will preserve your dark vision.
Finally, even though the Moon is one of the most stunning objects to view
through a telescope, its light is so bright that it brightens the sky and makes many of
the fainter objects very difficult to see. So try to observe the evening sky on
moonless nights around either New Moon or Last Quarter.

Astronomical Glossary
Conjunction An alignment of two celestial bodies such that they present the least
angular separation as viewed from Earth.
Constellation A defined area of the sky containing a star pattern.
Diffuse Nebula A cloud of gas illuminated by nearby stars.
Double Star Two stars that appear close to each other in the sky; either linked by
gravity so that they orbit each other (binary star) or lying at different distances from
Earth (optical double). Apparent separation of stars is given in seconds of arc (").
Ecliptic The path of the Suns center on the celestial sphere as seen from Earth.
Elongation The angular separation of two celestial bodies. For Mercury and Venus
the greatest elongation occurs when they are at their most angular distance from the
Sun as viewed from Earth.
Galaxy A mass of up to several billion stars held together by gravity.
Globular Star Cluster A ball-shaped group of several thousand old stars.
Light Year (ly) The distance a beam of light travels at 300,000 km/sec in one year.
Magnitude The brightness of a celestial object as it appears in the sky.
Open Star Cluster A group of tens or hundreds of relatively young stars.
Opposition When a celestial body is opposite the Sun in the sky.
Planetary Nebula The remnants of a shell of gas blown off by a star.
Universal Time (UT) A time system used by astronomers. Also known as Greenwich
Mean Time. USA Eastern Standard Time (for example, New York) is 5 hours behind UT.
Variable Star A star that changes brightness over a period of time.

JANUARY 2014

CELESTIAL OBJECTS

Listed on this page are several of the brighter, more interesting celestial objects
visible in the evening sky this month (refer to the monthly sky map). The objects are
grouped into three categories. Those that can be easily seen with the naked eye (that
is, without optical aid), those easily seen with binoculars, and those requiring a
telescope to be appreciated. Note, all of the objects (except single stars) will
appear more impressive when viewed through a telescope or very large
binoculars. They are grouped in this way to highlight objects that can be seen using
the optical equipment that may be available to the star gazer.

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

About the Celestial Objects

Easily Seen with the Naked Eye

Capella
Sirius
Procyon
Cephei
Deneb
Castor
Pollux
Vega
Rigel
Betelgeuse
Algol
Pleiades
Hyades
Aldebaran
Polaris

Aur
CMa
CMi
Cep
Cyg
Gem
Gem
Lyr
Ori
Ori
Per
Tau
Tau
Tau
UMi

The 6th brightest star. Appears yellowish in color. Spectroscopic binary. Dist=42 ly.
The brightest star in the sky. Also known as the "Dog Star". Dist=8.6 ly.
Greek name meaning "before the dog" - rises before Sirius (northern latitudes). Dist=11.4 ly.
Cepheid prototype. Mag varies between 3.5 & 4.4 over 5.366 days. Mag 6 companion.
Brightest star in Cygnus. One of the greatest known supergiants. Dist=1,400 200 ly.
Multiple star system with 6 components. 3 stars visible in telescope. Dist=52 ly.
With Castor, the twin sons of Leda in classical mythology. Dist=34 ly.
The 5th brightest star in the sky. A blue-white star. Dist=25.0 ly.
The brightest star in Orion. Blue supergiant star with mag 7 companion. Dist=770 ly.
One of the largest red supergiant stars known. Diameter=300 times that of Sun. Dist=430 ly.
Famous eclipsing binary star. Magnitude varies between 2.1 & 3.4 over 2.867 days.
The Seven Sisters. Spectacular cluster. Many more stars visible in binoculars. Dist=399 ly.
Large V-shaped star cluster. Binoculars reveal many more stars. Dist=152 ly.
Brightest star in Taurus. It is not associated with the Hyades star cluster. Dist=66.7 ly.
The North Pole Star. A telescope reveals an unrelated mag 8 companion star. Dist=433 ly.

Easily Seen with Binoculars

M31
M2
M38
M36
M37
M44
M41
Cephei
Mira
Cygni
M39
Draconis
M35
Leporis
R Lyrae
2232
2244
M50
Cr 69
M42
M15
Double Cluster
253
Mizar & Alcor

And
Aqr
Aur
Aur
Aur
Cnc
CMa
Cep
Cet
Cyg
Cyg
Dra
Gem
Lep
Lyr
Mon
Mon
Mon
Ori
Ori
Peg
Per
Scl
UMa

The Andromeda Galaxy. Most distant object visible to naked eye. Dist=2.5 million ly.
Resembles a fuzzy star in binoculars.
Stars appear arranged in "pi" or cross shape. Dist=4,300 ly.
About half size of M38. Located in rich Milky Way star field. Dist=4,100 ly.
Very fine star cluster. Discovered by Messier in 1764. Dist=4,400 ly.
Praesepe or Beehive Cluster. Visible to the naked eye. Dist=590 20 ly.
First recorded observation by Aristotle in 325 BC as "cloudy spot". Dist=2,300 ly.
Herschel's Garnet Star. One of the reddest stars. Mag 3.4 to 5.1 over 730 days.
Famous long period variable star. Mag varies between 3.0 & 10.1 over 332 days.
Long period pulsating red giant. Magnitude varies between 3.3 & 14.2 over 407 days.
May be visible to the naked eye under good conditions. Dist=900 ly.
Wide pair of white stars. One of the finest binocular pairs in the sky. Dist=100 ly.
Fine open cluster located near foot of the twin Castor. Dist=2,800 ly.
Visible with binoculars. Gold & white stars. Mags 3.6 & 6.2. Dist=30 ly. Sep=96.3".
Semi-regular variable. Magnitude varies between 3.9 & 5.0 over 46.0 days.
A large scattered star cluster of 20 stars. Dist=1,300 ly.
Surrounded by the rather faint Rosette Nebula. Dist=5,540 ly.
Visible with binoculars. Telescope reveals individual stars. Dist=3,000 ly.
Lambda Orionis Cluster. Dist=1,630 ly.
The Great Orion Nebula. Spectacular bright nebula. Best in telescope. Dist=1,300 light years.
Only globular known to contain a planetary nebula (Mag 14, d=1"). Dist=30,000 ly.
Double Cluster in Perseus. NGC 869 & 884. Excellent in binoculars. Dist=7,300 ly.
Fine, large, cigar-shaped galaxy. Requires dark sky. Member of Sculptor Group.
Good eyesight or binoculars reveals 2 stars. Not a binary. Mizar has a mag 4 companion.

Telescopic Objects
Andromedae
Arietis
M67
Cassiopeiae
61 Cygni
Delphini
Eridani
Monocerotis
2264
Orionis
M1
M33
M81
M82

And
Ari
Cnc
Cas
Cyg
Del
Eri
Mon
Mon
Ori
Tau
Tri
UMa
UMa

Attractive double star. Bright orange star with mag 5 blue companion. Sep=9.8".
Impressive looking double blue-white star. Visible in a small telescope. Sep=7.8".
Contains 500+ stars mag 10 & fainter. One of the oldest clusters. Dist=2,350 ly.
Yellow star mag 3.4 & orange star mag 7.5. Dist=19 ly. Orbit=480 years. Sep=12".
Attractive double star. Mags 5.2 & 6.1 orange dwarfs. Dist=11.4 ly. Sep=28.4".
Appear yellow & white. Mags 4.3 & 5.2. Dist=100 ly. Struve 2725 double in same field.
Striking blue-white double star. Mags 3.2 & 4.3. Visible in a small telescope. Sep=8.2".
Triple star. Mags 4.6, 5.0 & 5.4. Requires telescope to view arc-shape. Sep=7.3".
Christmas Tree Cluster. Associated with the Cone Nebula. Dist=2,450 ly.
Superb multiple star. 2 mag 7 stars one side, mag 9 star on other. Struve 761 triple in field.
Crab Nebula. Remnant from supernova which was visible in 1054. Dist=6,500 ly.
Fine face-on spiral galaxy. Requires a large aperture telescope. Dist=2.3 million ly.
Beautiful spiral galaxy visible with binoculars. Easy to see in a telescope.
Close to M81 but much fainter and smaller.
The Evening Sky Map (ISSN 1839-7735) Copyright 20002014 Kym Thalassoudis. All Rights Reserved.