In this guide we'll reveal what you can see in the night sky tonight, and throughout the month.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky tonight, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight.
Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT.
We also use RA (Right ascension)and dec. (declination).
These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’.
For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
If you're south of the equator, find out what you can see in the Southern Hemisphere night sky tonight.
What's in the night sky tonight?
January astronomy highlights
- 7 January: Io and its shadow virtually touch while in transit
- 10 January: Jupiter reaches opposition, and a rare Callisto transit
- 20 January: Comet 24P/Schaumasse passes south of Arcturus
- 26/27 January: Callisto and its shadow transit the face of Jupiter
- 27 January: The waxing gibbous Moon occults the northern Pleiades
Jupiter
The new year gets off to a flying start with Jupiter reaching opposition on 10 January 2026.
Currently really well placed in Gemini, Jupiter manages a very respectable altitude of nearly 60° under dark sky conditions when due south; perfect to raise it above any low altitude atmospheric turbulence.
A telescope shows lots of detail, but there are also four bright ‘Galilean’ moons to look out for.
As these pass in between Jupiter and the Sun, they cast their shadows onto Jupiter’s disc.
These events are especially interesting around opposition because the shadows line up with the moons.
Jupiter is approaching equinox and as a result, the outer Galilean moon Callisto can now also appear to interact with the planet.
In the brightening dawn twilight of 10 January, Callisto transits Jupiter in front of its shadow, a rare event to witness if you have clear skies.
Another unusual view occurs a few days earlier. On the evening of 6 January, look at Jupiter with a telescope and you’ll be forgiven for thinking it has two extra moons, these being chance alignment background stars.
The Moon
Our own Moon has an interaction with the Pleiades this month, its waxing gibbous phase appearing to pass in front of the northern part of this popular naked eye star cluster early evening on 27 January 2026.
This leads to a number of occultations. It’s the leading dark edge of the Moon doing the hiding, each hidden star eventually reappearing from behind the Moon’s bright edge sometime later.
If you’ve never seen a lunar occultation of a star before, they come highly recommended.
It’s amazing to see what is effectively a point light source encounter the Moon’s airless, razor-sharp edge.
Rather than fading from view as you might expect, the star disappears in an instant.
The Moon is full on 3 January, just a couple of days after it reaches perigee. This makes it a supermoon, slightly larger and brighter than an average full Moon. It's one of three supermoons we'll see in 2026.
Unfortunately, it’ll also spell disaster for the annual Quadrantid meteor shower, which reaches peak activity on the night of 3/4 January.
Comet 24P/Schaumasse
January’s night sky also has a comet to keep you entertained. Comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches perihelion on 8 January 2026 – a time when it’s also brightest in our sky.
During January, 24P can be seen tracking south of the bright springtime orange star Arcturus (Alpha (α) Boötis).
The comet is expected to remain close to tenth magnitude all month making it suitable for small telescopes.
Be aware that it will require you to set your alarm clock for an early hour observing session.
Orion
All of these events take place against an amazing starry backdrop, dominated by Orion in the first part of the night.
Whether you’ve seen it many times before or are new to the subject, take time out to look at Orion’s sword with some form of optical aid.
The glowing mass that is the Orion Nebula M42, is always a breathtaking sight and definitely worthy of a good slice of observing time.
And, if you hadn’t realised, Earth is closest to the Sun on 3 January when it reaches a position in its orbit known as perihelion.
It’s surprisingly hard to notice any effects from this positioning unless you’re a solar observer.
Around perihelion, the apparent diameter of the Sun is slightly larger than it appears at other times of the year.
Night sky in January 2026, night-by-night
Thursday 1 January
The Moon’s libration makes it favourable for viewing features near the southern pole today.
At 21:06 UT, Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen emerging from behind Saturn’s disc.
Callisto is eclipsed by Jupiter’s shadow from 20:00 UT.
Friday 2 January
Jupiter’s outermost Galilean moon, Callisto, reappears from behind Jupiter at 02:00 UT.
Saturday 3 January
Today’s full Moon is 36 hours and 20 minutes after lunar perigee, making it slightly larger and brighter than normal, and a supermoon.
Earth reaches perihelion today, a point in its orbit when it’s closest to the Sun.
The Quadrantid meteor shower peaks this evening, but the full Moon will unfortunately spoil the show.
Tuesday 6 January
Around 01:56 UT, Io starts transiting Jupiter, very close to its shadow.
At 17:30 UT, two stars sit 1.3 arcminutes south of Jupiter: mag. +6.8 HIP 36232 and mag. +8.9 TYC 1359-2674-1.
Wednesday 7 January
Ganymede and its shadow transit Jupiter together between 01:59 and 05:44 UT.
At 20:20 UT, Io and its shadow ‘touch’ as they transit, the event concluding at 22:40 UT.
Friday 9 January
Titan transits Saturn’s disc at 16:52–22:22 UT, starting in daylight and ending as Saturn sets – one of the last chances to see such an event for the current period.
Saturday 10 January
Callisto can be seen transiting in front of its shadow from 06:55 UT, this rare event occurring under dawn twilight.
Jupiter reaches opposition.
Sunday 11 January
From around 17:50 UT, Europa and its shadow can be seen touching as they transit Jupiter, the event concluding at around 20:45 UT.
Monday 12 January
The Moon shows favourable libration for features near its northwest limb today.
Tuesday 13 January
Io and its shadow appear to touch as they transit Jupiter between 03:39 and 06:03 UT.
Wednesday 14 January
Ganymede and its shadow transit Jupiter, the moon beginning its crossing at 05:33 UT, followed by the shadow at 05:56 UT.
Thursday 15 January
Saturn crosses the border from Aquarius to slip back into Pisces.
Saturday 17 January
Titan emerges from behind Saturn’s disc at 20:23 UT.
Sunday 18 January
It’s a new Moon today, so the sky is good and dark for general stargazing.
Tuesday 20 January
Magnitude –2.5 Jupiter currently sits 28 arcminutes north of magnitude +3.5 Wasat (Delta (δ) Geminorum).
Friday 23 January
Magnitude +0.7 Saturn is currently 2.2° southwest of mag. +7.9 Neptune. A 24%-lit waxing crescent Moon sits 5.9° northeast of Saturn.
Sunday 25 January
The Lunar X and V clair-obscur effects are both nicely visible around 17:00 UT.
Titan transits Saturn at 17:35–21:36 UT – the final chance to see a Titan transit for around 13 years.
Monday 26 January
From 21:07 UT today until 01:10 UT on 27 January, Callisto will be transiting Jupiter’s disc. Callisto’s shadow follows suit between 00:58 and 05:06 UT.
Tuesday 27 January
Around 21:30 UT, the 68%-lit waxing gibbous Moon can be seen crossing the northern section of the Pleiades open cluster.
Thursday 29 January
Mag. –1.2 Mercury and –3.8 Venus are separated by 41 arcminutes but, being located just 5.7° from the Sun, must only be viewed with equipment fitted with suitable filters.
Saturday 31 January
In the early hours, the 95%-lit waxing gibbous Moon can be seen 3.1° north of mag. –2.5 Jupiter.
Share your observations and images with us, or send us your astronomy questions to contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
