Moon
1st Quarter ---- 1st 11:14 – 00:23
Full ------------- 9th 16:48 – 08:02
Last Quarter -- 16th 00:42 – 10:40
New -------------23rd 07:44 – 17:14
Planets
Jupiter continues to reign supreme this month, being on scene from dusk on the 1st and setting at 2am, to setting at midnight on the 31st.
Uranus will be in the sky at dusk from the 1st, setting at 11:15pm. At the end of the month it’ll be up at dusk, but will set at 9:15pm, a tiny 3arcsec spot of mag +5.9 brightness.
Neptune will be an even tinier spot in the west, approaching the horizon at 5:30pm on the 1st, and setting soon after 8:00pm. On the 31st it will be a mag +8 point, setting as dusk descends, so not much to be seen of Neptune this month.
Back to the east. Mars will be rising on the 1st at 10:30pm. A bright disc of mag +0.2 and getting larger at 9arcsec. It’ll set at 11:15am, well after dawn. By the 31st it will be rising at 8:45pm a larger disc of 12arcsec and mag +0.5, and set at 9:30am. Getting closer and it’ll rise some 42° above the southern horizon, a good appearance.
Saturn will rise on the 1st at 2:15am, a 17 arcsec disc, of mag +0.7 brightness. It’ll set after just midday. By the end of the month it’ll be rising at 12:15am, a little less bright, and set at 10:15am. So a good long appearance though not high at only 28° above the southern horizon.
Venus will be the Evening Star, brighter than Jupiter at mag –4.0, and setting 2 hours after the Sun so clearly apparent. Even longer at the end of the month a little bigger but showing only 74% phase.
Mercury will be a morning object rising before the Sun by an hour but low in the south east at 7am on the 1st. It’ll only be visible for the first week before being overtaken by the Sun. Low, but bright at mag –0.4. Only worth the effort to be able to say you saw it. But beware of the brighter dawn twilight hiding the Sun.
Meteor Showers.
The Quadrantids, peaking on the 3rd of this month is one of the best of the year. Though the Moon is close to full, it rises later so shouldn’t be too much bother.
Comets.
None to speak of, but if you hear of one let me know, as I can download their ephemeredes onto the Vixen and find them.
For Satellites and Iridium Flares check with http://www.heavens-above.com/