January is a month filled with celestial wonders, offering a plethora of night sky events that will delight both amateur and seasoned stargazers. From the year's best Jupiter sighting to the peak of Orion views, here's a curated list of 10 must-see events, along with tips on how to catch the best views.
1. The New Year's Star: Sirius at its Highest Point
As the year begins, the night sky has its own midnight marker. Sirius, the brightest star visible from Earth, reaches its highest point of the year just after midnight, earning it the nickname the "New Year's star." This year's late-night sight is extra special. Right above Sirius in the southern sky, you'll find Jupiter, the nearly full moon, and Orion's three-dot belt.
2. Quadrantid Meteor Shower: A Faint Display
The Quadrantid meteor shower typically puts on a prolific show, with up to 25 shooting stars per hour. However, during the 2026 peak, which runs overnight from January 2 to 3, the full moon will wash out all but the brightest streaks. According to the American Meteor Society, this year's Quadrantids peak will bring fewer than 10 visible meteors per hour under pristine conditions. For the best odds, head out in the pre-dawn hours when the shower's radiant, near the Big Dipper, is highest in the sky.
3. Supermoon: A Dramatic Display
Catch a dramatic supermoon during the first weekend of the year. The spectacle, which occurs when the moon's full phase coincides with its close approach to Earth, can make the orb appear up to 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter than usual. The January 3 moon reaches peak illumination around 5 a.m. EST, but that's not necessarily the best time to spot it. The full moon looks especially supersized near the horizon, so watch around moonrise (sunset) or moonset (sunrise).
4. Jupiter at Opposition: A Giant Sighting
For the best Jupiter sighting of 2026, look skyward on the nights of January 9 and 10. The gas giant reaches opposition, the period when Earth lies between the fifth planet and the sun. It's also closer to Earth than it has been since December 2024; it won't get this close again until 2027. Jupiter's positioning makes it appear larger and more luminous than usual. Find it in the east around sunset, near the Gemini constellation. It forms a pyramid with Sirius and Orion's belt.
5. New Moon: A Dark Sky for Stargazing
While the supermoon grabs headlines, the mid-January new moon is just as important, especially for stargazers. The absence of moonlight can make the stars and deep-space objects like the Beehive Cluster, Orion Nebula, and the Andromeda Galaxy more visible. The new moon will occur on January 19: weather-permitting, the few nights before and after this promise inky-sky stargazing, too.
6. Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos): A Close Approach
After ducking out of view to pass the sun, Comet C/2024 E1 will soon reach perihelion—its closest approach to the sun. It will reappear after the January 20 perihelion, this time for southern hemisphere sky-watchers. Spot it low above the southwest with a moderate telescope or stargazing binoculars. Some astronomers predict it could reach around a magnitude 8. Northern Hemisphere stargazers will get another glimpse of the comet in February.
7. Moon Near Saturn and Neptune: A Close Encounter
Watch the thin crescent moon and bright Saturn travel the sky in close proximity on the nights of January 22 and 23. Neptune, spotted via strong binoculars or a telescope, will hover near the duo, too. They'll shine above the southwest horizon after sunset, and will remain up for a few hours before setting in the west.
8. Moon Meets Pleiades: A Lunar Occultation
The waxing gibbous moon will transit close to the Pleiades star cluster the night of January 27. Stargazers in the U.S. will see them hang near each other all night, while those in Europe, northern Africa, and surrounding areas can enjoy a true lunar occultation—when the moon slides across several of the cluster's stars. While the Pleiades is among the sky's most visible star clusters, binoculars or a telescope will enhance the view.
9. Moon-Jupiter Conjunction: A Final Spectacle
The month ends quite like it began: with a Jupiter-moon conjunction. Overnight from January 30 to 31, the waxing gibbous moon and Jupiter will move close together all night. You can watch the pair right after sunset above the eastern horizon. They'll glide across the sky throughout twilight and the early morning before setting in the northwest at sunrise.
10. Exceptional Orion Viewing: A Winter Constellation
Stargazers can admire the Orion constellation from roughly November to March in the northern hemisphere, but January is one of the best months to see the famed hunter. The winter constellation reaches its highest point from January into February, and remains visible nearly all night, from just after sundown into the early morning hours. It's flanked by Jupiter and the Pleiades star cluster all month, too.
