Are you ready for a new season of stargazing? If you’ve used the lengthy lockdowns of 2020 to point your eyes to the skies and learn a little about the night sky you’re probably wondering what’s in store for the new season.
Winter is a great time for stargazers in the northern hemisphere, which get long nights to gaze at some of the brightest and closest stars to the Solar System.
From the stars of Taurus and Orion to the brightest star of all—Sirius—there are some fabulous sights to be had by anyone willing to wrap-up warm.
However, this new season will also see some intriguing planetary combinations and plenty of beautiful moonrises. Here’s what you need to know about what’s happening and when:
1. Jupiter and Saturn’s finale as a ‘Christmas Star’
When: 45 minutes after sunset in late December
Where to look: southwestern sky
Monday, December 21, 2020 saw Jupiter and Saturn in their best “great conjunction” for almost 800 years when they were separated by a mere 0.1º, but any night this week is a good time to cast your eyes to southwestern skies to see the planets still super-close.
You will see Jupiter emerge in the twilight followed by Saturn to its upper-right. They’ll be just 1° apart until New Year’s Day, but setting earlier each night. Saturn will then disappear behind the Sun on January 23, followed by Jupiter on January 28, so act quickly.
2. A ‘Cold Moon,’ ‘Wolf Moon’ and ‘Snow Moon’
When: dusk on Tuesday, December 29, 2020/ Thursday, January 28, 2021/Saturday, February 27, 2021
Where to look: eastern horizon
Also known as the “Oak Moon,” “Long Nights Moon” and “Moon After Yule,” the full “Cold Moon” will be the final full Moon of 2020, but the first in the new astronomical season of winter.
The “Cold Moon” will be best viewed at moonrise where you are on this day. It will rise in the eastern sky opposite the setting Sun while bathed in subtle orange hues—gorgeous!
Later in winter the first full Moon of 2021 will be the “Wolf Moon,” which reaches its peak at Thursday on January 28, 2021, to be followed by the “Snow Moon” on Saturday, February 27, 2021.
3. A triple conjunction of planets
When: dusk on Saturday, January 9, 2021
Where to look: southwestern horizon
As well as being your last chance to see Jupiter and Saturn before they drift behind the Sun only to emerge in the pre-dawn night sky, there’s an opportunity to see Mercury join the gas giants.
Though you’ll need a view very low to the west-southwest horizon and observe during twilight you should be able to see these three worlds form a small triangle. You’ll need a clear sky and a pair of binoculars.
4. Mars in the ‘Seven Sisters’
When: 45 minutes after sunset on Wednesday, March 3, 2021
Where to look: southwestern horizon
Go outside and look south and in the corner of your eyes you’ll see a bright smudge that just can’t be unnoticed once you’ve seen it. That’s the “Seven Sisters” stars, an open cluster of hot young blue stars also known as the Pleiades and M45.
In a slight re-enactment of a visit by Venus in 2020, red planet Mars will drop by this luminous tangle of stars for a few nights, but it will be best seen on March 3, 2020.
5. The Moon and Mars
When: after dark on Friday, March 19, 2021
Where to look: southwestern sky
A couple of weeks later, Mars—by now not far off disappearing behind the Sun—will be in conjunction with a crescent Moon. They’ll be just over 1° apart. However, have a look the day before and you’ll see the red planet form a triangle with both the Moon and the “Seven Sisters” stars.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
