Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W05

Week begins: Monday, January 27, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Jan 27, 2025♒ 9
C103 / NGC 2070 · Tarantula Nebula — Telescope 1 — Antarctic Winter
Phact (α Col) — Naked eye 3 — Southern Winter
Alnitak (ζ Ori) — Naked eye 2 — Tropical Winter
Tue, Jan 28, 2025♒ 10
Finest NGC 28 / NGC 2024 · Flame Nebula — Telescope — Tropical Winter
Finest NGC 27 / NGC 2022 · PN G196.6-10.9 — Telescope 12 — Tropical Winter
Wed, Jan 29, 2025♒ 11
🌑 New Moon — 12:35:59 UTC
M78 — Telescope 8 — Tropical Winter
β Pic — Binoculars 4 — Southern Winter
Saiph (κ Ori) — Naked eye 2 — Tropical Winter
Thu, Jan 30, 2025♒ 12
Wazn (β Col) — Naked eye 3 — Southern Winter
M37 — Telescope 6 — Northern Winter
Fri, Jan 31, 2025♒ 13
Betelgeuse (α Ori) / Betelgeuse (α Orionis) — Naked eye Var 0 — Tropical Winter
Sat, Feb 1, 2025♒ 14
Menkalinan (β Aur) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Winter
Sun, Feb 2, 2025♒ 15

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins January 27, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♒︎ 7°17′
β −0°00′		♑︎ 5°36′
β −5°04′		♑︎ 28°11′
β −1°45′		♓︎ 23°18′
β +1°14′		♋︎ 22°04′
β +4°19′		♊︎ 11°24′
β −0°31′		♓︎ 16°53′
β −1°56′
ObservingNightNaked eye -7.0☉︎Naked eye -4.7Naked eye -1.2Naked eye -2.6Naked eye 1.1
Rise07:1305:5306:5708:5814:5912:2409:01
Set16:4713:4015:5120:5107:0003:3820:11

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♒︎ 19°02′
β −7°07′		♉︎ 23°16′
β −0°15′		♓︎ 27°50′
β −1°16′		♒︎ 1°54′
β −3°18′
Observing☉︎Binoculars 5.7Telescope 7.8☉︎
Rise08:2811:2409:2107:18
Set17:2502:0621:1016:04

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 03:52:20 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W05 runs from January 27 through February 2. Jupiter is about 1.6° in ecliptic longitude from Aldebaran in Taurus. Mercury and Pluto are separated by about 3.7° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌑 New Moon — 12:35:59 UTC. The dark Moon favors faint targets and extended star fields. Use Phact, Alnitak, Saiph, Wazn, Betelgeuse, Menkalinan as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Phact: The Prominent Star of Centaurus — An enduring fixture in the southern skies, Phact illuminates the constellation Centaurus with steady brilliance.

Alnitak: The Bright Beacon in Orion's Belt — A detailed look at Alnitak, a prominent star marking the eastern end of Orion's Belt.

Saiph — Orion's foot and the possible nursery in its wake — Saiph anchors one corner of Orion's familiar outline, but the most intriguing thing about this brilliant blue supergiant may be invisible to the eye: astronomers have proposed that its stellar wind helped sweep up a ring of gas in which new stars are forming.

Wazn — the Dove's orange giant that will not stay put — Two bright stars draw the back of Columba, the Dove. They seem to travel together across the winter sky, but the pairing is an illusion of perspective. Wazn, the warmer-coloured member, is a nearby evolved star whose measured motion will slowly alter the familiar pattern.

Betelgeuse: A Red Supergiant in Orion's Winter Cross — Illuminating the night sky with its distinctive hue, Betelgeuse stands as a beacon of stellar evolution and celestial wonder.

Menkalinan: A Prominent Bright Star in the Constellation Aquarius — An overview of Menkalinan, its characteristics, and its significance in the night sky.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -7.0; direct motion; 7.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 12:36 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 21:45 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 22:05 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Jan 30 06:28 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 04:09 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 21:48 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 22:55 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -0.7; direct motion; 96.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 21:45 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 07:52 UTC. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.7; direct motion; 41.3% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 22:05 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 16:33 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude -1.2; retrograde motion; 99.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: In solar glare; magnitude 9.1; direct motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 30 06:28 UTC. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.6; retrograde motion; 99.4% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 1.1; direct motion; 99.9% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 04:09 UTC. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; retrograde motion; 99.9% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Station Jan 30 16:22 UTC: turns direct. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 21:48 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 16:33 UTC. Pluto: In solar glare; magnitude 14.5; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 22:55 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 07:52 UTC.

Binoculars: Trace Pictor’s charted figure in the finder, then identify β Pic at its charted position.

Beta Pic: A Young Star of Cosmic Interest in the Constellation Pictor — An overview of the star Beta Pic, highlighting its significance and characteristics within the night sky.

Small telescope: Tarantula Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Flame Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; PN G196.6-10.9: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M78: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; M37: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

Tarantula Nebula — a starburst close enough to take apart — The Tarantula is not a Milky Way nebula enlarged by proximity. It is an enormous stellar nursery in another galaxy, yet it is close enough for astronomers to resolve the massive stars that make a starburst shine.

The Flame Nebula: A Bright Beacon in Orion's Embrace — An exploration of the striking emission nebula nestled in Orion's constellation, appealing to both amateur and seasoned astronomers.

PN G196.6-10.9: A Glimpse into the Orion Constellation's Cosmic Veil — Discover the intriguing features of this planetary nebula nestled within Orion, a stellar remnant that offers insights into stellar evolution.

Nebula M78: A Reflection of Cosmic Dust in Orion — Exploring the luminous dark nebula situated in the Orion constellation, an intriguing sight for amateur astronomers alike.

M37: The Auriga Open Cluster in the Night Sky — A prominent stellar group within Auriga, offering a captivating glimpse of stellar youth and galactic structure.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 06:57; sets 15:51 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.7. The disk is 96.9% illuminated (gibbous). It is 9.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.610° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.9° away. Pluto is 4.0° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 21:45 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 07:52 UTC. Mercury: 8.9° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 2.1° below the horizon. Rises 08:58; sets 20:51 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.7. The disk is 41.3% illuminated (crescent). It is 46.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.863° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 8.9° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 22:05 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 16:33 UTC. Venus: 8.9° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 71.0° below the horizon. Rises 05:53; sets 13:40 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -7.0. The disk is 7.7% illuminated (waning crescent). It is 32.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 13.138° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Kaus Australis, 6.0° away. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 12:36 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 21:45 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 22:05 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Jan 30 06:28 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 04:09 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 21:48 UTC. Conjunction with Pluto in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 22:55 UTC. Moon: 6.0° from Kaus Australis in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 59.4° above the horizon. Rises 14:59; sets 07:00 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.2. The disk is 99.3% illuminated (nearly full). It is 164.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.346° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 2.8° away. Mars: 2.8° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 63.6° above the horizon. Rises 12:24; sets 03:38 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.6. The disk is 99.4% illuminated (nearly full). It is 124.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.029° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 5.1° away. Jupiter: 5.1° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 9.2° below the horizon. Rises 09:01; sets 20:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.1. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 39.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.104° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 11.2° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 04:09 UTC. Saturn: 11.2° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 51.3° above the horizon. Rises 11:24; sets 02:06 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 99.9% illuminated (nearly full). It is 106.0° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.003° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Menkar, 15.0° away. Station Jan 30 16:22 UTC: turns direct. Uranus: 15.0° from Menkar in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 1.2° above the horizon. Rises 09:21; sets 21:10 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 50.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.027° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.6° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 21:48 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Feb 01 16:33 UTC. Neptune: 13.6° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:28; sets 17:25 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.1. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 13.7° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.391° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalsuud, 16.4° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 30 06:28 UTC. Ceres: 16.4° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:18; sets 16:04 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 6.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.032° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.3° away. Mercury is 4.0° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jan 28 22:55 UTC. Conjunction with Mercury in ecliptic longitude Jan 29 07:52 UTC. Pluto: 8.3° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.