By Neill Simmons
The highlight of January is the majestic planet, Jupiter. It will be at its brightest in the east on Saturday the 10th. Make sure to get your binoculars in order to see Jupiter’s four biggest moons – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Also notice two twinkling stars to the left of Jupiter. These are Castor and Pollux, the famous twins of the constellation Gemini. Castor is not actually a single star, but a system of six stars that are so close together, they appear as one. It was one of the 48 constellations described by the second century astronomer Ptolemy, and it remains one of the 88 modern constellations today. Its name is Latin for twins.
The year begins with January’s Wolf Full Moon on the 3rd, named for the howling wolves often heard during midwinter. On February 1st the Snow Full Moon will appear, reflecting historically heavy snowfall in our local mountains. Although the Moon shines bright in the night sky, it doesn’t produce its own light. We see the Moon only because it reflects light from the Sun. The temperature on the Moon varies from super hot to super cold. When the Sun hits its surface, temperatures can reach a scorching 260° F. But when the Sun goes down, temperatures can plummet to around -243°F. Brrr
Make an effort this month to spot the brightest star in the sky, Sirius. Sirius is twice the size of our Sun and 25 times brighter. It is located to the right of Jupiter and is part of the constellation Canis Major. Bright stars, such as Sirius, were important to the ancient Polynesians for navigation of the Pacific Ocean. Sirius is located approximately 8.6 light-years away from Earth. A light-year is the distance light travels in one Earth year, which is about six trillion miles!
Every night in January, the famous Orion the Hunter constellation is visible in the southeast. Look for the three bright stars in a row which is Orion’s belt. An important star in Orion is Betelgeuse located in Orion’s left shoulder. It’s a variable star, so a change in its brightness isn’t unusual. But Betelgeuse is now dimmer than it’s been for several years. Is it possible that this is a sign of instability in this old red supergiant star? And could it mean Betelgeuse will explode and die soon? When will it happen? The answer is: Maybe today. Maybe a thousand years from now.
A very interesting sight comes on Friday, January 23, when the Moon and the planet Saturn will appear to be near to each other. Saturn is one of the most fascinating planets in the solar system, known for its massive size, iconic rings, and unique atmospheric features. About 750 Earths would be able to fit inside Saturn. We are unable to stand on Saturn. It is made of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, and does not have firm ground. Saturn has the highest number of moons in our solar system at 274. Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is the only moon in our solar system with an atmosphere.
The City of Calabasas Senior Center is presenting an astronomy talk on Thursday, January 22, at 2:30 pm. The winter sky, Vandenberg rocket launches, and NASA happenings will be discussed. Call (818) 224-1777 for more information. A nominal fee will be charged.
When not stargazing, Neill Simmons, is an Investment Executive with LPL Financial in Woodland Hills. If you have any astronomy or financial questions, he may be reached at (818) 936-2626 or emailed at neill.simmons@lpl.com.
