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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between January 1 and January 31, 2023. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury starts January in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the southwest just after sunset. On the 1^st, the sun sets at 4:55 p.m., PST, and Mercury sets at 5:51 p.m., PST. From the 5^th through the 14^th, Mercury is close to the sun and not observable. On the 31^st, Mercury rises at 5:51 a.m., PST, and the sun rises at 6:51 a.m., PST. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus is in the evening sky, low in the southwest. On the 1^st, Venus sets at 6:12 p.m., PST. By the 31^st, the sun sets at 5:22 p.m., PST, and Venus sets at 7:17 p.m., PST. Venus is in a wide gibbous phase, only 11 arcseconds across.

Mars is in Taurus the Bull and is visible all evening. It starts the night in the east and sets at 4:52 a.m., PST, on January 1 and at 3:00 a.m., PST, on the 31^st. Mars is a disk 11 arcseconds wide and 92-percent illuminated.

Jupiter is in Pisces the Fishes and is visible most of the evening. It begins the evening high in the south. On the 1^st, Jupiter sets at 11:15 p.m., PST. On the 31^st, Jupiter sets at 9:39 p.m., PST. Jupiter is 36 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons may be seen moving back and forth, roughly in a line centered on Jupiter.

Saturn is low in the southwest and ending its appearance in the evening sky. On the 1^st, Saturn sets at 8:09 p.m., PST. By the 31^st, Saturn sets at 6:27 p.m., PST, an hour after the sun sets.  The rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan may be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus is in the constellation of Aries the Ram and is observable most of the night. On the 1^st, Uranus sets at 2:49 a.m., PST. On the 31^st, the planet sets at 12:50 a.m., PST. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 2^h 50^m 26^s with a declination of +15° 59ʹ 25ʺ. Uranus is only 3.6 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show its diminutive disk.

Neptune is in the constellation Aquarius the Water Bearer and is observable during early evening. On the 1^st, Neptune sets at 10:35 p.m., PST. On the 31^st, the planet sets at 8:40 p.m., PST. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 36^m 41^s with a declination of -3° 48ʹ 19ʺ. Neptune is only 2.3 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show the disk.

Full moon occurs on the 6^th, last quarter on the 14^th, new moon on the 21^st, and first quarter on the 28^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

The moon begins an occultation of Mars at 8:36 p.m., PST, on January 30. Mars will take one minute to disappear behind the moon. The planet emerges from behind the moon at 9:30 p.m., PST, and will take a minute to reappear fully. Griffith Observatory will host a web broadcast, weather permitting, but no public viewing.

Lunar-X is a feature caused by the raised rims of a few craters. It is visible for a few hours from 4:37 p.m., PST, on the 28^th. It is visible along the lunar terminator, the line between the lighted portion of the moon and the dark portion. The feature is not visible with the unaided eye but requires binoculars or a small telescope. Lunar-X is just within the dark portion to the east of the terminator and halfway from the center of the terminator to its southernmost point. 

The Quadrantid meteor shower will peak on the night of the 3^rd and through the morning of the 4^th. The moon will be 92-percent full and will interfere with observations. The peak usually only lasts six hours and may produce 100 meteors per hour.

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