ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS IN JANUARY 2021, A SHORT REVIEW OF MARVELOUS VIEW BY PHYSICS INN

 ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS IN JANUARY 2021, A SHORT REVIEW OF MARVELOUS VIEW BY PHYSICS INN

January 2, 3 - Quadrantids Meteor Shower. 

The Quadrantids is an exceeding average shower, with up to 40 meteors per hour at its climax. I think dust grains to produce it left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1, which was discovered in 2003. The shower runs from January 1-5. It peaks this year on the night of the 2nd and morning of the 3rd. The waning gibbous moon will block out most of the faintest meteors this year. But if you are patient, still be able to catch a few good ones. The best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Bootes but can appear anywhere in the sky.

 radiate from the constellation Bootes but can appear anywhere in the sky.

January 13 - New Moon.

 The Moon will be in the same position as the Earth as the Sun and will not be noticeable in the night sky. This stage shows at 05:02 UTC. it is the best time of the month to look at faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

January 24 - Mercury at Greatest Eastern Elongation.

The planet Mercury reaches the greatest eastern elongation of 18.6 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to see Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Watch for the planet, little in the western sky, just after sunset.

January 28 - Full Moon 

The Moon will be on the contrary side of the Earth as the Sun, and it will highlight its face. This phase occurs at 19:18 UTC. I knew this full Moon by early Native American tribes as the Wolf Moon because this was the time of year when hungry wolf packs howled outside their tents. I have also known this Moon as the Old Moon and the Moon After Yule.