Best Skywatching Events in January 2020: Mars Runs Into Its “Rival” and More

Mars meets its "rival," Venus and the moon rekindle their "relationship," and more skywatching delights in January 2020. (Photo Credit: NASA / JPL / Malin Space Science Systems)

Missed the Quadrantid meteor shower? No worries, you still have time kickstart your 2020 skywatching agenda this month.

Mars will meet its “rival,” also known as the red giant star Antares, while the crescent moon and Venus will “couple up” again right before February. And, you can spot different lunar phases over the next 31 days, too, according to NASA.

Before you head outside, make sure to bundle up and check the weather: It’s still winter and once the sun goes down, you don’t want to freeze while watching January’s celestial treats. Plus, downloading a skywatching app, such as SkyView Lite, and investing in an auto-guided telescope can help make the most out of your viewing experience.

Mars Bumps Into Its “Rival”

Photo Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

All month long, the Red Planet will rise with its “rival,” the red giant star Antares, before dawn.

Antares, which means “rival to Mars,” in ancient Greek, vies with Mars’ color and brightness. Interestingly enough, Antares is larger than the Red Planet’s orbit and it’s roughly 10,000 times brighter than the sun. NASA says it’s 16 million times farther away from Earth than Mars is, so it will look like a small spec in the sky.

Here’s how to spot the duo: They’ll appear low in the southeast part of the sky, approximately an hour before the sun rises in the morning. From the beginning to the end of January, the Red Planet will move to the east of Antares. On Jan. 20, they’ll be in the company of a skinny lunar crescent and the trio will be a beautiful sight.

The Crescent Moon and Venus “Get Back Together”

Photo Credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech

At the end of January, the crescent moon and Venus will “pair up” for a gorgeous show. Just after sunset on Jan. 28, you can spot them hanging in the southwest area of the night sky. This “meeting” will take place on the same date as last month, so you definitely don’t want to miss it!

For more information on January’s skywatching delights, visit the NASA Science Solar System Exploration website.

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