Sun, Moon, and Stars: January 2002

Updated February 21, 2017 | Factmonster Staff
Sun, Moon & Stars
Movement of the heavenly bodies: January 2002

 

Celestial links
·  Visibility of the Planets
·  Sunrise/Sunset, Moonrise/Moonset
·  Equinoxes and Solstices
·  Eclipses in 2001
·  Astronomical terms
·  Calendar 2002
Visit the Astronomy Center for more on the universe, the solar system, and related astronomical phenomena

 

 

January Calendar


 

Moon PhaseDayPhenomenonHour
(UT)
Hour
(EST)
1Jupiter is at opposition, that is, Jupiter and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth.06001 am
2The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.07002 am
2Earth is at its perihelion, or closest point to the Sun in its yearly orbit.14009 am
6LAST QUARTER040011 pm
(Jan. 5)
8Pallas, the second-largest asteroid, is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Pallas and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun.22005 pm
9Mercury is 1 degree 3 minutes south of Neptune.050012 am
(midnight)
11Mercury is at its greatest elongation, or angular distance from the Sun, at 19 degrees east of the Sun23006 pm
13NEW MOON13008 am
14Venus is in superior conjunction, that is, Venus and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun.12007 am
15Mercury is 4 degrees north of the Moon.02009 pm
(Jan. 14)
15Uranus is 4 degrees north of the Moon.22005 pm
16Vesta, the third-largest asteroid, appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent backward, or retrograde, motion changes back to direct motion.170012 pm
(noon)
18Mercury appears to be motionless in the sky as its direct motion changes to apparent backward, or retrograde, motion.09004 am
18The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit.09004 am
18Mars is 5 degrees north of the Moon.22005 pm
21FIRST QUARTER18001 pm
24Saturn is 0 degrees 8 minutes south of the Moon. Saturn is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon.160011 am
26Jupiter is 0 degrees 9 minutes south of the Moon. Jupiter is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon.19002 pm
27Mercury is in inferior conjunction, that is, the Sun and the Earth are aligned on opposite sides of Mercury.19002 pm
28Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Neptune and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun.14009 am
28FULL MOON23006 pm
30The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit.09004 am

 

 

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