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Comet 17P/Holmes remains visible in binoculars but is now very much fainter. The January 2008 sky map places it directly above for mid-northern latitude observers. Southern hemisphere observers may be able to catch a glimpse of Holmes just above their northern horizon.
• Comet 17P/Holmes (Gary W. Kronk's Cometography)
• Comet Holmes Photo Gallery (Spaceweather.com)
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Comet 8P/Tuttle will hopefully become an easy binocular object in early January. The Evening Sky Map shows the daily path of Comet Tuttle throughout the month. Note, positions are for 0 hours UT on the nominated dates so please adjust for your local circumstances.
• Comet 8P/Holmes (Gary W. Kronk's Cometography)
• The Other Bright Comet of 2007/2008 (Sky & Telescope)
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1
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Moon near Spica at 13h UT (morning sky).
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3
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Earth at Perihelion (closest to Sun) at 0h UT. The Sun-Earth distance is 0.983280 a.u. or about 147.1 million kilometers.
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3
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Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 8h UT (distance 405,331 km; angular size 29.5').
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4
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Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks at 06:40 UT. Produces up to 100 medium-speed meteors per hour. Radiant is in the constellation Boötes. Parent comet is unknown. Very favorable viewing conditions in 2008.
• Meteor Shower Calendar 2008 (IMO)
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5
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Moon very near Antares at 10h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from western South America.
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8
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Venus near Antares at 1h UT (morning sky).
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8
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New Moon at 11:37 UT. Start of lunation 1052.
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15
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First Quarter Moon at 19:46 UT.
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18
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Moon near the Pleiades at 6h UT (evening sky). Occultation of some stars visible from Northern North America and Northern Asia.
• Occultation of the Pleiades (IOTA)
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19
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Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 9h UT (366,430 km; 32.6').
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20
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Moon near Mars at 0h UT (evening sky). Mag. -1.0. Occultation visible from NW North America and Arctic.
• Occultation of Mars (IOTA)
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21
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Moon near Pollux at 23h UT (midnight sky).
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22
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Mercury at greatest elongation, 19° east from Sun (evening sky) at 5h UT. Mag. -0.5, low in the west-southwest soon after sunset.
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22
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Full Moon at 13:35 UT. The full Moon of January is called the Old Moon or the Moon After Yule in North American folklore.
• Full Moon Names (Wikipedia)
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22
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Moon near Beehive cluster (M44) at 23h UT (midnight sky).
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24
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Moon very near Regulus at 15h UT (morning sky). Occultation visible from Australasia and New Zealand.
• Occultation of Regulus (IOTA)
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25
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Moon near Saturn at 4h UT (morning sky). Mag. +0.4.
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28
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Moon near Spica at 21h UT (morning sky).
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30
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Last Quarter Moon at 5:03 UT.
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31
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Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 4h UT (distance 404,533 km; angular size 29.5').
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31
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Venus near Jupiter (morning sky). Visible together in a low-power telescope.
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All times Universal Time (UT). USA Eastern Standard Time = UT - 5 hours.
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