Meteor shower and Mercury will be at maximum elongation in the sky in January

The first month of 2024 is at the door and with it Our selection of astronomical events to mark your calendar!

Astronomy enthusiasts in both hemispheres of the planet will have the opportunity to observe many celestial events that can be observed with the naked eye and basic observation instruments such as small binoculars and telescopes.

Astronomical events of January play the leading role About the Quadrantid meteor shower and the planet Mercury, which will be in a perfect position for observation!

In the first days of 2023 The peak of the Quadrantid meteor shower will occur on the night of January 3 and in the early morning hours of January 4. This is a medium-sized event, producing approximately 40 meteors per hour at its peak. This meteor shower consists of grain and dust debris left by an ancient and now extinct comet in the Solar System called 2003 EH1.

Quadrantids occur between January 1 and 5 each year, and it is possible that fainter meteors may be difficult to see this year due to the presence of a waning Moon in the sky. However, the brightest ones will be easily visible. Meteors can appear anywhere in the sky.

On January 12, the planet Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation of 23.5 degrees from the Sun. This means this will be the best time to see Mercuryas it will be at its highest point in the sky above the horizon. You can look for this by looking for a bright spot just before sunrise.

Using applications such as Carta Celeste, Stellarium and SkyMap are great allies for observing and identifying objects in the sky!

Calendar of major astronomical events for January 2024

03/01 and 04/01: Maximum activity of the Quadrantid meteor shower

04/01: In the First Quarter of the Month

11/01: New month

12/01: Mercury at maximum westerly elongation and perihelion of comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)

01/19: In the First Quarter of the Month

01/25: full moon

01/27: Planetary conjunction between Mercury and Mars

Clear skies and good observations!

Always be informed about upcoming celestial events on TecMundo and get the opportunity to share the January calendar with your friends who enjoy astronomy!