Astronomical Events in January 2024: January 2024 is a celestial spectacle which offers a plethora of astronomical events for all skygazers. From meteor showers to planetary alignment, the month is full of amazing and magnificent sky scenes. And as we stepped into the first month of the new year, let’s explore all the exciting celestial events to witness the wonders of the universe from our vantage point on Earth.
List of Astronomical Events in January 2024
| Date | Astronomical Event |
| January 3 | Earth’s Perihelion |
| January 4 | Quadrantids Meteors |
| January 11 | New Moon |
| January 12 | Mercury at Greatest Elongation West |
| January 13 | Moon will appear above Saturn |
| January 17 | Jupiter will appear left to Moon |
| January 19 | Gamma-Ursae Minorids Meteor Shower |
| January 25 | Wolf Moon |
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Astronomical Events in January 2024
Earth’s Perihelion: On January 3, at 6:08 am IST, Earth will be at its closest point to the Sun this year. Earth is considered to be at perihelion when it is at the point in its orbit that is closest to the Sun. Perihelion Day occurs annually between January 2 and 4, which is around two weeks following the December Solstice.
Quadrantids Meteors: According to EarthSky, the asteroid EH1, which takes roughly 5.5 years to orbit the Sun, is associated with the Quadrantids meteor shower. It went live on December 12 and will stay live through January 12. The spectacular skyshow is predicted to reach its peak on January 4, 2024, at approximately 4 PM IST. This indicates that the optimal viewing times will be on January 4 at dawn and on January 5 after the radiant rises.
New Moon: New moon occurs when the Moon is between Earth and the Sun, and thus the side of the Moon that is in shadow faces Earth. According to Space.com, New moons occur approximately once every month because that's roughly how long it takes for the moon to orbit Earth.
Gamma-Ursae Minorids Meteor Shower: The Gamma-Ursae Minorids happen when Earth travels through a comet's debris cloud. This shower will peak on January 19 at approximately 11:00 a.m. EST, thus the ideal times to see the shooting stars on Thursday are before dawn or after nightfall when the sky is dark.
Wolf Moon: January's full Wolf Moon reaches peak illumination on Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 12:54 P.M. EST. It is named after the howling of hungry wolves lamenting the scarcity of food in midwinter. Other names for this month's full moon include old moon and ice moon.
In conclusion, January 2024 is a great chance to look up and marvel at all the cosmic wonders. These astronomical events will help you connect with the universe, fostering a sense of awe and wonder. Do not forget to set a reminder to enjoy and witness the planetary movements and wonders in the night sky.
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