January Skies 

Written by Dick Cookman

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, January Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Draco, Ursa Minor, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Cancer, Gemini, Orion, Taurus, Auriga, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus, Pisces, Triangulum, Aries

• Comet Journals 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) has dimmed to 10-11th magnitude in Aquila and is retreating to the Oort Belt as it leaves the inner solar system. It is best observed with a 8’ or larger telescope low in the eastern predawn sky. No other visible comets exceed 12th magnitude, and no currently discovered candidates are expected to rise above that brightness until autumn.

• Mars Landers

Mars rover evidence gathered in recent years supports a warm and wet ancient planetary climate. 

Where did the water come from and where did it go?

Alexandra Becker reports on marsdaily.com that a research team with Rice University professors Rajdeep Dasgupta and Kirsten Siebach, postdoctoral research associate Duncan Keller, graduate students Jackson Borchardt and Julin Zhang and Patrick McGovern of the Lunar and Planetary Institute employed advanced thermal modeling to reconstruct the thermal state of Mars’ crust during the Noachian and early Hesperian periods. “…variations in Mars’ crustal thickness during its ancient history may have influenced the planet’s magmatic evolution and hydrological systems.” “The research, published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, suggests that the thick crust of Mars’ southern highlands formed billions of years ago generated granitic magmas and sustained vast underground aquifers, challenging long-held assumptions about the red planet’s geological and hydrological past. The study, led by Rice University’s Cin-Ty Lee, demonstrates that the southern highlands’ thick crust – up to 80 kilometers in some areas – was hot enough during the Noachian and early Hesperian periods (3-4 billion years ago) to undergo partial melting in the lower crust. This process, driven by radioactive heating, could have produced significant amounts of silicic magmas such as granites and supported subsurface aquifers beneath a frozen surface layer.”

• Meteor Showers

The major January northern hemisphere meteor shower is the Quadrantid Shower, named after an obsolete constellation. The radiant is in northern Bootes which rises in the north-northeast after 9:00PM EST. The Quadrantids are best seen well before sunrise. Lunar glare will be absent as the waxing crescent Moon sets well before midnight.

January 4: Quadrantids, Active Dec. 28-Jan. 12, Radiant 15h20m +49°, ZHR 120, 41 km/sec., Waxing Crescent Moon, Progenitor: Asteroid 2003 EH.

• Planet Plottings 

Mercury (0.3 to -0.9) in Ophiuchus and Capricornus is the only planet restricted to predawn skies in January. It is best observed in southeastern skies in early January, then descends deeper in the glow of sunrise, disappearing in late January as it approaches superior conjunction with the Sun on Feb. 9. Hesperus and Phosphorus were the ancient Greek names for the evening and morning stars. This winter, Venus (-4.3 to -4.5) in Aquarius and Pisces is Hesperus and, come summer, it will be Phosphorus. It reaches greatest eastern elongation at midnight, Jan. 9, when it is 47° from the Sun, the largest separation of the year. Saturn (+1.1) in Aquarius and Venus will be 3.0° apart on the 22nd. The waxing crescent Moon passes Mercury on the 1st, Venus on the 3rd, and Saturn on the 4th. Saturn, best viewed in early January when it sets at 10:00PM EST, is farther above the horizon than at its 8:00PM setting on the 31st. The waxing crescent Moon passes Neptune (+7.9) in  Aquarius on the 5th and the waxing gibbous Moon passes Uranus (+5.7) in Aries and Jupiter (-2.2 to -2.0) in Taurus on the 9th and 10th respectively. Mars (-1.2 to -1.4 to -1.1) in Cancer and Gemini is closest to Earth on the 12th. It is 0.2° N from a waning gibbous Moon at 11:00PM EST on the 13th. The waning crescent Moon passes Mercury on the 28th and Saturn on the 31st. Mars opposition is on the 15th. Its brightness (magnitude -1.4) exceeds any since Dec. 2022, and equals Sirius, the brightest star in the nighttime sky. Numerous surface details are evident in telescopes with diameters of 8”+. Observers will have to wait until the opposition of 2027 for comparable telescopic views.

Planet	Constellation(s)	Magnitude	Planet Passages	Time	Date
Sun	Sagittarius, Capricornus	-26.5	New Moon	7:36AM EST	1/29
Mercury	Ophiuchus – Capricornus	+0.3 to -0.9
Venus	Aquarius – Pisces	-4.3 to -4.5	Max. East Elongation Saturn 3.0°N	Midnight Midnight	1/9 1/22
Mars	Cancer – Gemini	-1.2 to -1.1	Mars Opposition	10:00PM EST	1/15
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.6 to -2.4
Saturn	Aquarius	1.1	Venus 0.4°S	3:00PM EST	1/22
Uranus	Aries	5.7
Neptune	Pisces	7.9

• January Moon

The New Moon of January is in Scorpius on the 1st at 1:21AM EDT. This New Moon marks the start of Lunation 1262 which ends 29.59 days later with the New Moon on January 29. The Full Moon on the 13th occurs at 5:27PM EST in Libra. It is the Moon after Yule or Old Moon. Colonial Americans called it the “Winter Moon”. To the Celts it was the “Quiet Moon”, and it is the “Holiday Moon” for the Chinese. Medieval English thought of it as the “Wolf Moon”, and the Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Gichimanidoo-giizis” (Great Spirit Moon). Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings of the Mississauga branch of the Anishinabek Nation. They explain the cycle of life and nature of the 13 Grandmother Moons. “The first moon of Creation is Spirit Moon, and is manifested through the Northern Lights. It is a time to honour the silence and realize our place within all of Great Mystery’s creatures.”

Lunar perigee – Jan. 7, 7:01PM EST. The Moon is at 230,213 mi. (57.28 Earth radii). Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) – Jan. 20 at 11:54PM EST. The Moon’s distance is 251,219mi. (63.39 Earth radii).  

At 8:00AM EST on Jan. 4, the Earth is at perihelion, its closest annual approach to the Sun. It may seem counterintuitive that this occurs in northern hemisphere winters until we remember that “THE REASON FOR THE SEASONS IS THE TILT”. On the northern hemisphere winter solstice ( Dec. 21, 2024), Earth’s axis was tilted away from the Sun, providing the least direct sunlight of the year to the northern hemisphere. Regions located at 23.5°S latitude basked under the direct rays of the Sun, the southern hemisphere summer solstice!

Planet	Constellation	Magnitude	Moon Passages	Moon Phase	Moon Age
Sun	Capricornus	-26.8	7:36AM EST, 1/29	New	0 Days
Mercury	Capricornus	-0.7	2.45°SE, 6:00PM EST, 1/28	Waning Crescent	29.02 Days
Venus	Aquarius	-4.3	1.4°S, 10:00AM EST, 1/3	Waxing Crescent	3.69 Days
Mars	Gemini	-1.4	0.2°N, 11:00PM EST, 1/13	Waning Gibbous	13.73 Days
Jupiter	Aries	-2.5	5.0°N, 6:00PM EST, 1/10	Waxing Gibbous	11.02 Days
Saturn	Aquarius	1.1	0.7°N, Noon EST, 1/4 1.1°N, Midnight EST, 1/31	Waxing Crescent Waning Crescent	4.77 Days 1.68 Days
Uranus	Aries	5.7	4.0°N, 11:00AM EST, 1/9	Waxing Gibbous	9.73 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.9	1.1° N, 10:00AM EST, 1/5	Waxing Crescent	5.69 Days

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, November Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Draco, Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis, Auriga, Taurus, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda, Triangulum, Aries, Pisces, Pegasus, Aquarius, Cygnus, Lyra

• Comet Journals 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas moves from Ophiuchus into Aquila in November. Until the 9th, glare from the waxing crescent Moon will create some competition as the comet drops to 6th magnitude, but observers should still obtain views with binoculars. Objective lenses of at least 50 mm provide best views. Perihelion passage was in late September and the comet passed perigee (closest to Earth) on October 12. It is now retreating to its origin in the Oort Cloud. 

• Mars Landers

Anushree Srivastava, Postdoctoral Fellow at Carnegie Institution and member of Mars 2020 SHERLOC Science and Operations Team notes that in January 2024, a fault in the motor of the SHERLOC instrument aboard NASA’s Perseverance Rover caused the dust cover and autofocus mechanism to become inoperative, putting the rover’s SHERLOC Raman spectroscopy capability at risk. In March, a fortunate motion of the arm on Sol 1077 opened the dust cover allowing  the team to look for ways to focus the optics and operate SHERLOC with the open dust cover. The problem was solved by June, when a successful observation of the rock target Walhalla Glades. In July 2024, SHERLOC’s Raman performed multiple calibrations, scans, and observations on a rock named Cheyava Falls and the team was thrilled to discover the mission’s most compelling evidence for organics in Jezero Crater. Determination of whether the organic compounds were formed through biological or non-biological processes can be done when the rocks are eventually returned to laboratories here on Earth. 

• Meteor Showers

The four meteor showers in November include the southern and northern Taurids, the Leonids, and the Alpha Monocerotids. The two Taurids are weak showers during the waxing crescent Moon, the minor Alpha Monocerotid shower and the somewhat stronger Leonids compete with the waning gibbous Moon’s glare.

November 5: Southern Taurids. Active Oct.1-Nov. 25. Radiant 3h20m +13°. ZHR 5. 27 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet Enke.
November 10: Northern Taurids. Active Oct.1-Nov. 25. Radiant 3h52m +22°. ZHR 5. 29 km/sec. Waxing Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Asteroid 2004 TG10.
November 17-19: Leonids Active Nov. 14-Nov. 21. Radiant 10h12m +22°. ZHR 10, variable to storm. 70 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet Tempel-Tuttle. 

November 21: Alpha Monocerotids. Active Nov. 15-Nov. 25. Radiant 7h48m +01°. ZHR 2. 70 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Asteroid 3200 Phaethon.

• Planet Plottings

The Evening planets in November include Mercury (-0.2 to 2.0) in Scorpius and Ophiuchus, Venus (-3.9 to -4.0) in Ophiuchus and Sagittarius, Saturn (0.8 to 1.0 in Aquarius, Neptune (7.8 to 7.9, in Pisces), Uranus (5.6) in Taurus, and Jupiter (-2.6 to -2.7) in Taurus. Mars (0.0 to -0.5) in Cancer rises about 11PM EST but is best viewed in the southwest in predawn skies when Jupiter and Uranus are in western skies. On the 3rd, the waxing crescent Moon passes Mercury which is low in the southwest in the 1st half of the month and reaches greatest eastern elongation (23° from the Sun) on the 16th. Venus dominates the western sky in the early evening. On the 4th, it is accompanied by the waxing crescent Moon then proceeds to brighten each evening in November and December. Saturn is high in the southern sky after sunset and is passed by the waxing gibbous Moon on the 10th which then passes Neptune on the 11th. 3.5 hours after the full Frosty or Beaver’s Moon on the 15th, the waning gibbous Moon passes Uranus. It then passes Jupiter on the 17th and Mars on the 20th. Jupiter rises about 8:30 PM EST, providing an eastern beacon to complement Venus in the west. Mars is approaching its January, 2025 opposition when it will be in closest proximity to Earth and is getting brighter. In November, the red planet rivals the brightest 1st magnitude stars in the night sky.

Planet	Constellation(s)	Magnitude	Planet Passages	Time	Date
Sun	Gemini	-26.5	New Moon	8:47AM EDT	11/1
Mercury	Scorpius, Ophiuchus	-0.2 to 2.0	Max. East Elongation	3:00AM EST	11/16
Venus	Ophiuchus, Sagittarius	-3.9 to -4.0
Mars	Cancer	0.0 to -0.5
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.6 to -2.7
Saturn	Aquarius	0.8 to 1.0
Uranus	Taurus	5.6	Opposition	10PM EST	11/16
Neptune	Pisces	7.8 to 7.9

• November Moon

The New Moon of November is in Libra on the 1st at 8:47AM EDT. New Moon marks the start of Lunation 1260 which ends 29.73 days later with the New Moon of December in Scorpius on the 1st at 2:22AM EST. 

The Full Moon on the 15th occurs at 4:29PM EST in Aries. It is also a Supermoon which appears larger and brighter than normal because the Full Moon occurs about 34.2 hours after lunar perigee, its minimum distance during the month. November’s Full Moon is the Frosty or Beaver’s Moon. Colonial Americans called it the “Beaver Moon”. To the Celts it was the “Dark Moon”, and it is the “White Moon” for the Chinese. Medieval English thought of it as the “Snow Moon”, and the Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Gashkadino-Giizis” (Freezing Over Moon).in the western dialect and ”Baashkaakodin-Giizis” (Freezing Moon) in the eastern dialect. 

Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings explaining the cycle of life and nature of their 13 Grandmother Moons. “The eleventh moon of Creation is the Freezing Moon, a time when the Star Nation is closest to us. As every creature being prepares for the coming fasting grounds, we are reminded to prepare ourselves for our spiritual path by learning the sacred teachings and songs that will sustain us.”

Lunar perigee –  Nov.14, 6:16AM EST. The Moon is at 223,762 mi. (56.46 Earth radii). Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) – Nov. 26 at 6:56AM EST. The Moon’s distance is 251,850mi. (63.54 Earth radii).  

Planet	Constellation	Magnitude	Moon Passages	Moon Phase	Moon Age
Sun	Gemini	-26.8	8:47AM EDT, 11/1	New	0 Days
Mercury	Libra, Ophiuchus	-0.2 to 2.0	2.0°S, 3:00AM EST, 11/3	Waxing Crescent	2.76 Days
Venus	Ophiuchus, Sagittarius	-3.9 to -4.1	3.0°S, 7:00PM EST, 11/4	Waxing Crescent	4.43 Days
Mars	Cancer	0.1 to -0.5	2.0°N, 4:00PM EST, 11/20	Waning Gibbous	20.30 Days
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.5 to -2.7	6.0°N, 10:00AM EST, 11/17	Waning Gibbous	18.05 Days
Saturn	Aquarius	0.8 to 1.0	0.09°N, 9:00PM EST, 11/10	Waxing Gibbous	9.51 Days
Uranus	Taurus	5.6	4.0°N, 8:00PM EST, 11/15	Waning Gibbous	14.47 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.8 to 7.9	0.6° N, 9:00PM EST, 11/11	Waxing Gibbous	10.51 Days

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, September Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Draco, Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis, Perseus, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Andromeda, Pisces, Pegasus, Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila, Hercules, Corona Borealis, Bootes

• Comet Journals 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a 7th magnitude comet which is circling east of Sextans in September and will zip from Sextans, through Virgo and Serpens Caput, and into Ophiuchus in October. It may brighten drastically when approaching perihelion passage on September 27 and may briefly attain naked eye visibility at 1st magnitude. The comet passes perigee (closest to Earth) on October 12, lighting up the western evening sky. It will then circle through the summer triangle in Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra for the next 6 months while retreating to its origin in the Oort Cloud. 

Comet 13P/Olbers (2024) is a short period 8th magnitude comet in Coma Berenices and will move eastward between Bootes and Virgo in September. It passed through perihelion on June 30 and was closest to Earth on July 20.

• Mars Landers 

The Perseverance rover just embarked on a 1000 foot climb to surmount the rim of Jezero Crater where it has spent the last 3.5 years investigating the rocks and sediments covering the floor of the crater. The rover collected and has stockpiled 12 rock samples for eventual return to Earth. Recent budget cutbacks and hundreds of layoffs have jeopardized the return plan. NASA is now seeking proposals from the space agency’s centers and private industry for less costly options.

Blast from the past – Martian seismic data collected by the now retired Insight Lander was recently examined with sophisticated computer modeling which revealed huge amounts of buried water at depths exceeding 10 miles. Enough water is thought to exist to form a many miles deep worldwide ocean. Scientists do not know the origin of the water. Is it water or ice trapped during the formation of the planet or was some of the water salvaged when the Martian magnetic field deteriorated and permitted the ancient solar wind to blow away most of the planet’s early atmosphere and hydrosphere? In any event, it appears to be present and may eventually be accessed by future technology.

 Meteor Showers

Meteor showers in September include the September Perseids, the Sextanids, and the Delta Aurigids. All three are minor showers, occurring during crescent lunar phases which permit better viewing.

September 9: Perseids. Active September 5-17. Radiant 04h0m 47°, ZHR 5, 64 km/sec. Waxing Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Unknown comet

September 27: Sextanids. Active September 9-October 9. Radiant 10h08m 00°, ZHR ? Radio, 30 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Apollo asteroid 2005 UD

September 28: Delta Aurigids. Active September 18-October 10. Radiant 05h28m +49°, ZHR 3, 64 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Comet C/1911 N1 Kiess. 

• Planet Plottings

Mercury (0.5 to -1.5) in Leo and Virgo, Mars (0.7 to 0.5) in Taurus and Gemini, Jupiter (-2.1 to -2.3) in Taurus, Saturn (0.6 to 0.7), in Aquarius), Uranus (5.7) in Taurus, and Neptune (7.8, in Pisces) are morning planets in the eastern sky in September. Mercury reaches greatest eastern elongation on the 4th when it is 18° from the rising Sun. It then drops toward the horizon as it approaches superior conjunction with the Sun on the 30th. Saturn is brightest at its Sept. 8 opposition with the Sun after which it moves into the evening sky. Neptune also has an opposition with the Sun on Sept. 20.

Brilliant Venus (+3.8) is an evening planet in the western sky. Venus moves from Virgo to Libra during September, rising higher above the western horizon in the process. After their respective oppositions, Saturn and Neptune appear in the eastern evening sky. 

Autumn begins after the equinox at 8:44AM EDT on the 22nd. Earth’s axis is oriented at precisely 90° from a line between Earth and the Sun, producing 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.

Planet	Constellation(s)	Magnitude	Planet Passages	Time	Date
Sun	Gemini	-26.5	New Moon	9:56PM EDT	9/2
Mercury	Leo to Virgo	0.5 to -1.5	Max. West Elongation  Superior Conjunction	11:00PM EDT 5:00PM EDT	9/4 9/30
Venus	Virgo to Libra	-3.8
Mars	Taurus to Gemini	0.7 to 0.5
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.1 to -2.3
Saturn	Aquarius	0.6 to 0.7	Opposition	1:00AM EDT	9/8
Uranus	Taurus	5.7
Neptune	Pisces	7.8	Opposition	8:00PM EDT	9/20

• September Moon

The September New Moon is in Leo on the 2nd at 9:56PM EDT. It marks the start of Lunation 1258 which ends 29.70 days later with the New Moon of October in Virgo on the 2nd at 2:49PM EDT. 

The Full Moon on the 17th occurs at 10:34PM EDT in Aquarius. It is a Supermoon which appears larger and brighter than normal because the Full Moon occurs less than 12 hours before lunar perigee, its minimum distance during the month. It is even brighter than August’s version when Full Moon & perihelion were almost 36 hours apart. September’s Full Moon is the Harvest Moon which is the full moon closest to the Autumn Equinox. It is also known as the Fruit Moon. Colonial Americans called it the “Harvest Moon”. To the Celts it was the “Singing Moon”. For the Chinese it is  the “Chrysanthemum Moon”. Medieval English thought of it as the “Barley Moon”, and the Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Waatebagaa-giizis” (Leaves Turning Moon). Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings explaining the cycle of life and nature of their 13 Grandmother Moons. “The ninth moon of Creation is the Corn Moon, during which time we learn about the cycle of life. Each cob of corn has thirteen rows of multicolored seeds which represent all the spirits waiting to begin their Earth Walk. These will be the future generations for whom we must prepare.”

Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) – Sept. 5 at 10:54PM EDT. The Moon’s is at 252,408mi. (63.69 Earth radii). Lunar perigee –  Sept. 18, 9:22AM EDT. The Moon is at 222,007 mi. (56.02 Earth radii).                                                         

A waning crescent Moon sets with Mercury on the 1st. The waxing crescent Moon passes Venus on the 5th. A waxing gibbous Moon passes Saturn on the 17th and Neptune is passed by a waning gibbous Moon on the 18th after Full Moon. Uranus is next on the 22nd and the waning gibbous Moon passes Jupiter on the 23rd. The waning crescent Moon passes Mars on the 25th.

Planet	Constellation	Magnitude	Moon Passages	Moon Phase	Moon Age
Sun	Gemini	-26.8	9:56PM EDT, 9/2	New	0 Days
Mercury	Leo	0.5	5.0°N, 5:00AM EDT, 9/1	Waning Crescent	28.42 Days
Venus	Virgo	-3.8	1.2°S, 6:00AM EDT, 9/5	Waxing Crescent	0.34 Days
Mars	Gemini	0.5	5.0°N, 8:00AM EDT, 9/25	Waning Crescent	14.42 Days
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.3	6.0°N, 7:00PM EDT, 9/23	Waning Gibbous	13.88 Days
Saturn	Aquarius	0.6	0.3°N, 6:00AM EDT, 9/17	Waxing Gibbous	6.34 Days
Uranus	Taurus	5.7	5.0°N, 3:00AM EDT, 9/22	Waning Gibbous	11.21 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.8	0.7° N, 4:00AM EDT, 9/18	Waning Gibbous	7.25 Days

Highlights: Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, July Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Draco, Ursa Minor, Camelopardalis, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Cygnus, Aquila, Lyra, Hercules, Corona Borealis, Bootes, Coma Berenices, Canes Venatici

• Comet Journals 

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a 8th magnitude comet circling through Sextans. Perihelion passage is in late September when it may briefly attain naked eye visibility at 1st magnitude. It passes perigee (closest to Earth) on October 12, lighting up the western evening sky. It will then circle through the summer triangle in Aquila, Cygnus, and Lyra for the next 6 months as it retreats to the Oort Cloud. 

Comet 13P/Olbers (2024) is a short period 7th magnitude comet in Lynx and Leo Minor in July. It passed through perihelion on June 30 and will be closest to Earth on July 20.

• Mars Landers 

The Insight Lander, which sent its final goodbyes in December, 2022, provided an enormous amount of scientific data. Scientists will be mining these measurements and others collected by NASA missions for decades. A dead rover/lander/orbiter is not the final story, hypothetical and theoretical interpretations come and go, but measurements are immortal! They can be used again and again to develop more accurate hypotheses and theories. Ingrid Daubar, an associate professor (research) of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences at Brown University, recently analyzed Martian seismic data collected by the Insight Lander and concluded that Mars experiences far more impacts from space debris than was previously thought. The ramifications of this discovery may be far-reaching, they could possibly change the way we estimate ages of solar system bodies. Crater count has long been one means of estimating age— the more craters per unit area, the older the terrain. Initial studies of measurements made by our celestial robots focused on the new and shiny, most obvious, easiest, or immediately interesting phenomena, more subtle investigations were left for the future. There is a plethora of info yet to be extracted from lunar rocks collected by the Apollo missions 55 years ago.

Meteor Showers

Two relatively minor meteor showers in late July are separated by the Delta Aquarids on the 27th. The Piscis Austrinids are a minor southern hemisphere shower on the 27th, and the Alpha CapricornIds are on the 29th.

July 27: Pisces Austrinids. Active July 15-August 10. Radiant 22h44m -30°, ZHR 5, 35 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: ?.

July 27: Delta Aquarids. Active July 12-August 19. Radiant 22h3m -16°, ZHR 20, 41 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: Comet 96P/Machholz and/or Asteroid 2003 EH1.

July 29: Alpha Capricornids. Active July 3-August 15. Radiant 20h28m -10°, ZHR 4, 23 km/sec. Waning Gibbous Moon. Progenitor: 169P/Neat, 2017 MB1 

• Planet Plottings 

Mercury (0.4 to 1.1 in Cancer and Leo) and Venus (3.8 in Gemini, Cancer, and Leo) are evening planets in the western sky during July. On the 6th, the waxing crescent Moon passes Venus and, on the 7th, both planets appear between the Moon and the horizon. Mercury is located 3° below the Moon and Venus is hugging the horizon. Each moves higher in the sky during July. On the 22nd, Mercury is at greatest eastern elongation, 27° from the Sun. 

Early morning skies display Jupiter (-1.9 to -2.0) and Uranus (5.8) in Taurus and Mars (1.0 to 0.9, in Aries) on the eastern horizon before sunrise. The waning crescent Moon passes Mars on the 1st and the red planet is above Uranus until the 15th when it passes within less than a degree and drops below the giant outer planet. The waning crescent Moon passes Uranus on the 2nd and Jupiter on the 3rd. Saturn (1.0 to 0.9, in Aquarius) and Neptune (7.8, in Pisces) are higher in the south and are passed by the waning gibbous Moon on the 24th and 25th. 

At the end of July, the waning crescent Moon again passes Uranus, Mars, and Jupiter, the former on the 29th and the latter two on the 30th.

Planet	Constellation(s)	Magnitude	Planet Passages	Time	Date
Sun	Taurus	-26.5	New Moon	6:58PM EDT	7/5
Mercury	Gemini, Cancer, Leo	-0.4 to 1.1	Max. East Elongation	3:00AM EDT	7/22
Venus	Gemini, Cancer, Leo	-3.8
Mars	Aries, Taurus	1.0 to 0.9	Uranus, 0.6°S		7/15
Jupiter	Taurus	-1.9 to -2.0
Saturn	Aquarius	1.0 to 0.8
Uranus	Taurus	5.8	Mars, 0.6°N		7/15
Neptune	Pisces	7.9

• July Moon

The New Moon of July is in Gemini on the 5th at 6:58PM EDT. The New Moon marks the start of Lunation 1256 which ends 29.51 days later with the New Moon of August in Cancer on the 4th at 7:13AM EDT. The Full Moon on the 21st occurs at 6:17AM EDT on the boundary between Capricornus and Sagittarius. It is known as the Hay or Thunder Moon. Colonial Americans preferred to call it the “Summer Moon”. To Celts it was the “Moon of Claiming”, and Chinese refer to it as the “Hungry Ghost Moon”. Medieval English thought of it as the “Mead Moon”, and the Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Miin-giizis (Blueberry Moon). Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings explaining the cycle of life and nature of their 13 Grandmother Moons. “The seventh moon of Creation is Raspberry Moon, when great changes begin. By learning gentleness and kindness, we may pass through the thorns of its bush and harvest its fruit, knowledge that will help in raising our families.”

Lunar Apogee (maximum lunar distance) is on July 12 at 4:11AM EDT when the Moon’s distance is 251,259mi. (63.40 Earth radii). Lunar perigee (minimum lunar distance) is on the 24th when the Moon is at 226,749 mi. (57.21 Earth radii) at 1:41AM EDT.     

Planet	Constellation	Magnitude	Moon Passages	Moon Phase	Moon Age
Sun	Gemini	-26.8	6:58AM EDT, 7/5	New	0 Days
Mercury	Cancer	-0.1	3.0°N, 3:00PM EDT, 7/7	Waxing Crescent	1.83 Days
Venus	Gemini	-3.8	3.8°NNE, 1:00PM EDT, 7/6	Waxing Crescent	0.75 Days
Mars	Aries	1.0	5.0°N, 2:00PM EDT, 7/1	Waning Crescent	25.22 Days
Mars	Aries	0.9	5.0°N, 7:00AM EDT, 7/30	Waning Crescent	24.50 Days
Jupiter	Taurus	-1.9	5.0°N, 4:00AM EDT, 7/3	Waning Crescent	26.81 Days
Jupiter	Taurus	-2.0	5.0°N, 8:00PM EDT, 7/30	Waning Crescent	25.04 Days
Saturn	Aquarius	0.9	0.4°N, 11:00AM EDT, 7/24	Waning Gibbous	18.67 Days
Uranus	Taurus	5.8	4.0°N, 6:00AM EDT, 7/2	Waning Crescent	21.10 Days
Uranus	Taurus	5.8	4.0°N, 2:00PM EDT, 7/29	Waning Crescent	24.08 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.8	0.6° N, 5:00AM EDT, 7/25	Waning Gibbous	21.85 Days

Highlights:  Comet Journal, Martian Landers, Meteor Showers, Planet Plotting, May Moon 

Focus Constellations: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Draco, Cepheus, Cassiopeia, Camelopardalis, Lynx, Leo Minor, Canes Venatici, Coma Berenices, Bootes, Corona Borealis, Hercules, Ophiuchus, Virgo, Leo

• Comet Journals 

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks (2024) is an enormous periodic comet which visits every 71 years. It has moved out of northern hemisphere skies and into those of the southern hemisphere. Closest approach to Earth at 1.55 AU (232 million km) is on June 2.

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) is a 9th magnitude Oort cloud comet in northern Virgo. Perihelion passage is in southern skies in September, 2024 when it may reach naked eye visibility. It will then return to northern hemisphere skies and pass perigee (closest to Earth) in October. 

Comet 13P/Olbers (2024) is a short period 7th magnitude comet in Taurus. It will move into Auriga in late May. It will reach perihelion on June 30 and be closest to Earth on July 20.

Mars Landers 

The Perseverance rover is exploring the floor of Jezero Crater and has returned data indicating that the rocks observed formed at depth from crystallizing magma. They contain abundant olivine and have interacted with water numerous times since their formation billions of years ago. Like those found by the Curiosity rover in Gale Crater, they also contain organic molecules probably associated with the intervals when water was present. While the presence of organic molecules does not confirm that living organisms were involved with their formation, neither does it deny that possibility. Organic molecules can contain the elements, carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and many others and are normally associated with life. However, there are numerous inorganic processes that can bring these elements together, so scientists look for evidence of conditions favorable to life in addition to the presence of organic molecules. Mars provides both, but has not yet revealed conclusive evidence for pre-existing or current life to any of the Martian probes and rovers. 

Boots on the ground will help, an endeavor that may have been recently accelerated by the developing of pulsed plasma rocket by Howe Industries. This system could shorten manned Mars missions to two months and allows for heavier, better-protected spacecraft, minimizing crew exposure to cosmic radiation.  

• Meteor Showers

Southern hemisphere skies are best for seeing the Eta Aquarius shower which occurs just before New Moon. Northern dark sky viewers will not see the expected outburst but may still view a dozen or so per hour. 

Eta Aquarids: May 6, 2-4AM. Active Apr. 19- May 28. Radiant 22h32m -01°. ZHR 60. 66 km/sec. Waning Crescent Moon. Progenitor: Comet Halley.

• Planet Plottings 

Early May Evening skies provide a brief view of Jupiter (-1.9 to -1.8, in Taurus) before it disappears into the glow of sunset. It is in conjunction with the Sun on the 18th when Venus (-3.8, in Aries) passes within less than a degree from Uranus (+5.8, in Aries) six hours earlier. Venus is within less than a degree from Jupiter on the 23rd. Uranus is lost in sunset’s glare all month and is in conjunction with the Sun on the 13th and Mercury (1.1 to -0.7, in Pisces) on the 31st. 

During the first half of the month the east and east-southeast predawn sky hosts Mercury, Mars (1.1, in Pisces), Neptune (7.9, in Pisces), and Saturn (1.2, in Aquarius). They are lined up in that order in Pisces and Aquarius 45 minutes before sunrise on May 6. Mercury is just above the horizon south of the rising Sun and waning crescent Moon and the others appear progressively higher when scanning to the ESE. Mercury is 26° from the Sun at Greatest Western Elongation on the 9th.

The waning crescent Moon appears to pass Saturn on the 3rd, Neptune and Mars on the 4th, Mercury on the 6th, and Venus on the 7th. The waxing crescent passes Uranus and Jupiter on the 8th. The waning Gibbous Moon passes Saturn and Neptune on the 31st

Planet	Constellation(s)	Magnitude	Planet Passages	Time	Date
Sun	Pisces, Aries	-26.5	New Moon	11:22PM EDT	5/7
Mercury	Pisces	1.1 to -0.7	Max. West Elongation	6:00PM EDT	5/9
Mercury	Pisces	1.1 to -0.7	Uranus, 1.28°NW	4:00AM EDT	5/31
Venus	Aries	-3.8	Uranus, 0.45°NW	9:00AM EDT	5/18
Venus	Aries	-3.8	Jupiter, 0.19°S	5:00AM EDT	5/23
Mars	Pisces	1.1
Jupiter	Taurus	-1.9 to -1.8	Solar Conjunction	3:00PM EDT	5/18
Jupiter	Taurus	-1.9 to -1.8	Venus, 0.19°N	5:00AM EDT	5/23
Saturn	Aquarius	1.2
Uranus	Aries	5.8	Solar Conjunction	5:00AM EDT	5/13
Uranus	Aries	5.8	Venus, 0.45°SE	9:00AM EDT	5/18
Uranus	Aries	5.8	Mercury, 1.28°SE	4:00AM EDT	5/31
Neptune	Pisces	7.9

• May Moon 

The New Moon of May is in Aries on the 7th at 2:21PM EDT. The New Moon marks the start of Lunation 1254 which ends 29.39 days later with the New Moon of May in Pisces on the 6th at 8:39AM EDT. 

The Full Moon on the 23rd occurs at 9:53AM EDT in Libra. It is called the Planting, or Milk Moon. Colonial Americans preferred to call it the “Milk Moon”. To Celts it was the “Bright Moon”, and Chinese refer to it as the “Dragon Moon”. Medieval English thought of it as the “Hare Moon”, and Anishinaabe (Odawa and Ojibwe) people of northern Michigan recognize it as “Zaagibagaa-giizis (Budding Moon)” in the eastern dialect and “Namebine-giizis (Suckerfish Moon)” in the western dialect). Ontario’s Earth Haven Farm presents cultural teachings explaining the cycle of life and nature of the 13 Grandmother Moons. “The fifth moon of Creation is Flower Moon, where all plants display their Spirit sides for all the world to see. This life giving energy is one the most powerful healing medicines on Mother Earth. During this moon we are encouraged to explore our Spiritual essences.”

At Lunar perigee (minimum lunar distance) on May 5, 6:04PM EDT, the Moon is at 225,659 mi. (56.94 Earth radii). It’s maximum distance of 251,432mi. (63.44 Earth radii) is at apogee on May 17, 2:59PM EDT.

Planet	Constellation	Magnitude	Moon Passages	Moon Phase	Moon Age
Sun	Aries	-26.8	11:22PM EDT, 5/7	New	0 Days
Mercury	Pisces	0.7	4.0°N, 4:00AM EDT, 5/6	Waning Crescent	27.57 Days
Venus	Aries	-3.8	3.2°NW, 10:00AM EDT, 5/7	Waning Crescent	28.82 Days
Mars	Pisces	1.1	0.2°N, 10:00PM EDT, 5/4	Waning Crescent	26.32 Days
Jupiter	Taurus	-1.8	4.1°NNW, 1:00PM EDT, 5/8	Waxing Crescent	0.57Days
Saturn	Aquarius	1.2	0.8°S, 7:00PM EDT, 5/3	Waning Crescent	25.19 Days
Saturn	Aquarius	1.2	0.4°S, 4:00AM EDT, 5/31	Waning Gibbous	23.19 Days
Uranus	Aries	5.8	3.44°NNW, 8:00AM EDT, 5/8	Waxing Crescent	0.36 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.9	0.3° S, 3:00PM EDT, 5/4	Waning Crescent	26.03 Days
Neptune	Pisces	7.9	0.02° S, 11:00PM EDT, 5/31	Waning Gibbous	23.98 Days