STAR TRAK for January 2011
Tuesday, January 4, 2011 - 17:30
in Astronomy & Space
As the new year begins, Jupiter will be the only planet visible after sunset, about halfway up the sky in the south-southwest. It will dominate the evening sky as the brightest object in view. January will be the last month to take advantage of Jupiter's position by observing the giant planet with a telescope. It will start sinking closer to the horizon in February, so its light will have to pass through more of Earth's turbulent atmosphere. It will set around 11 p.m. EST at the beginning of January and before 9:30 p.m. by month's end.