Connecticut Sky Watch: January 2026

January offers Connecticut stargazers long, dark nights perfect for winter observing. With sunset arriving before 4:30 PM at month's start and darkness stretching past 7:00 AM, patient observers have ample opportunity to explore the season's finest celestial treasures.

The Evening Sky

The winter Milky Way arcs overhead after dark, fainter than its summer counterpart but still visible from darker Connecticut locations like the hills of Litchfield County or the quiet corners of the eastern highlands. Orion dominates the southern sky, his distinctive belt pointing down toward Sirius—the brightest star in our night sky—and up toward Aldebaran and the Pleiades cluster in Taurus.

The Pleiades deserve binocular attention this month. While casual observers typically count six or seven stars, good binoculars from a dark site reveal dozens of blue-white suns wrapped in faint wisps of reflection nebulosity. The cluster sits nearly overhead around 9 PM, perfectly positioned for comfortable viewing.

Gemini climbs high in the east, with Castor and Pollux marking the twins' heads. Below Orion's feet, the faint stars of Lepus the Hare crouch low, while Canis Major follows the hunter faithfully, Sirius blazing blue-white above the southern tree line.

Planetary Highlights

Venus blazes in the southwest after sunset, impossible to miss at magnitude -4.5. The evening star reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun on January 10th, meaning it sets latest after sunset around this date—roughly three hours after the Sun. Through a telescope, Venus shows a beautiful half-phase, like a tiny first-quarter Moon.

Saturn lingers in the early evening sky in Aquarius, noticeably fainter than Venus but still a worthy target. The rings remain tilted nearly edge-on as seen from Earth, continuing the gradual closing that will culminate in March. Catch Saturn before it disappears into twilight by month's end.

Mars rises in the east during the evening hours, brightening as Earth approaches it. By late January, the red planet shines prominently in Cancer, offering telescopic observers glimpses of surface features during steady seeing.

Jupiter commands attention high in the south after sunset, the second-brightest point of light after Venus. The giant planet lies in Taurus, not far from Aldebaran. Even modest binoculars reveal the four Galilean moons strung like tiny pearls beside the planet's creamy disk.

Moon Phases

• Full Moon: January 13th (the "Wolf Moon")

• Last Quarter: January 21st

• New Moon: January 29th

The week surrounding new Moon offers the darkest skies for deep-sky observing and meteor watching.

Notable Events

January 3rd–4th: Quadrantid Meteor Shower Peak The Quadrantids can produce up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions, though their sharp peak lasts only a few hours. This year, the waning gibbous Moon interferes somewhat, but early morning observers may still catch bright Quadrantid fireballs streaking from the northeast. The radiant lies in northern Boötes, near the handle of the Big Dipper.

January 10th: Venus at Greatest Eastern Elongation Venus reaches maximum angular separation from the Sun, offering excellent evening viewing conditions.

January 21st: Mars at Opposition Mars reaches opposition, rising at sunset and remaining visible all night. This opposition is moderately favorable, with Mars appearing about 14 arcseconds across—large enough to reveal surface markings through backyard telescopes.

Deep Sky Treasures

January evenings showcase winter's finest deep-sky objects. The Orion Nebula (M42) needs no introduction—visible as a fuzzy patch even to the naked eye, it explodes into glowing gas clouds and newborn stars through any optical aid. The Great Nebula lies in Orion's sword, hanging below his belt.

For a challenge, seek the Horsehead Nebula just south of Alnitak, the easternmost belt star. This dark silhouette against glowing hydrogen requires dark skies and careful observation, but photographs beautifully for astrophotographers.

The Crab Nebula (M1) in Taurus marks the remnant of a supernova witnessed by Chinese astronomers in 1054 AD. A telescope shows an oval glow; the spinning neutron star at its heart pulses 30 times per second, though detecting this requires specialized equipment.

Observing Tips

Connecticut's January weather demands preparation. Dress in layers, with particular attention to extremities—heat escapes quickly through an uncovered head, and cold fingers make focusing difficult. Chemical hand warmers tucked in gloves extend comfortable observing time considerably. Allow telescopes at least 30 minutes to reach thermal equilibrium with the outside air; temperature differences create tube currents that blur images.

Clear winter nights often bring excellent atmospheric transparency, but steady seeing is less common. When the stars twinkle fiercely, stick to wider fields and lower magnifications. Save high-power planetary viewing for nights when stars appear calm and steady near the horizon.

Clear skies, Connecticut!