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Astronomy Events in January 2022 That You Can See From Home
January 2022 brings us several astronomical events that will be able to be seen without a telescope or binoculars, making this a great month to look up at the sky without needing equipment. Many events take place during the earlier half of the month, with most taking place over the first couple of days. New moon will be taking place on the 2nd, meaning all of the events taking place at the beginning of the month will not be drowned out by moonlight, giving perfect viewing conditions (weather permitting).
Jan. 3rd — Peak of the Quadrantids Meteor Shower
Starting right now, the Quadrantids meteor shower is currently visible, with the peak taking place on the 3rd. During peak hours and in good weather, you can expect to see up to 25 meteors per hour.
To find the peak hours for your time zone, click here.
Jan. 4th — Earth at Perihelion
While not necessarily a visible astronomical event, January brings Earth to its closest point from the Sun, called perihelion. This is due to Earth’s orbit not being a perfect circle, but rather a shape called an elliptical. The change in the distance between the Earth and Sun does not affect the weather or anything else notable, but it is a cool reminder of the…
