The southern sky
How to use this map
Face north, holding the star map with south at the top in front of you – the lower half represents
the part of the sky you are facing.
The planets
Mercury
e innermost planet could be seen soon after sunset later in the month given a good outlook to the
western horizon.
Venus
Look for the second planet from the Sun in the pre-dawn sky as soon in the month as possible.
Mars
Despite now being a shadow of its opposition-best brightness, the red planet is well placed in the
early-evening sky.
Jupiter
e Solar System’s dominant planet can be viewed at the beginning of the year before passing
through conjunction with the Sun.
Saturn
e ringed marvel is visible close to Jupiter soon after sunset at the start of the month, before solar
conjunction on 24 January.
Uranus
e seventh planet from the Sun is an easy binocular target in the evening sky among the stars of
Aries.
Neptune
e most distant planet known is an early-evening target in Aquarius that’s best observed during the
rst half of January.
The sky as it will appear at 10pm AEST on 15 January. AN graphic by Greg Smye-Rumsby.
ViewThe southern sky
January 2021
Astronomy Now