January 2022
Stargazing Guide

Bare Dark Sky Observatory
Mayland Earth to Sky Park
Happy New Year Fellow Stargazers!
January is the brightest sky of our year- astronomically speaking. The crisp clear winter night and southern sky is filled with celestial wonders and makes it well worth bundling up, grabbing a hot cocoa, and heading outdoors for a marvelous night of astronomy. 
James Webb Space Telescope
Be expecting news from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) that Launched on Christmas and recently unfolded in a complex series of origami moves. It has a mirror that is 5X larger than Hubble’s and can see better in infrared light. This photo shows JWST just above earth as is was released by the upper stage of an Ariane V rocket, which was lunched from French Guiana. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA 
Winter Constellations
Orion the Hunter takes a lead presence across our sky this month. While Orion is not the largest constellation, it is definitely the brightest. In it you will find 2 of the top 10 brightest stars in our sky. The bright star Betelgeuse is 750X brighter than the sun and found marking his shoulder. The blue-white star, Rigel, is found marking his left knee. Though they are less luminous, Bellatrix, at the Hunter’s left shoulder, and Mintaka, Alnilam, and Alnitak, which comprise Orion’s Belt are important to note. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA's Hubble Telescope showing Orion's Nebula

Just above Orion stands Taurus, the Bull, with long horns jutting to the left and one “angry” eye represented by the reddish star Aldebaran, which translates to “Follower”; it is following the open cluster of the Pleiades. 
Pleiades, the Seven Sisters, are among the most famous of star clusters. This cluster is easy to find. Dozens of ancient cultures around the globe have noted mythologies for the Pleiades. Generally if you have decent vision, you can spot 5 stars of the cluster. Though in ancient lore, if you can spot all 7 stars in the cluster you have “the eyes of a warrior”. Check out M45 for the star cluster
PHOTO CREDIT: Marco Lorenzi (glittering lights)

To the left we can spot Auriga, the charioteer. The star Elnath is shared between Auriga and Taurus, making it one of the few stars that belongs to two constellations.
Moving downward, you can spot Gemini, the Twins. Their names: Castor and Pollux, with stars of those names representing the heads of the reclining twins. They lie holding hands, their legs and feet stretched out toward Orion. Check out the beautiful Eskimo Nebula spied by William Herschel in 1787 in the Gemini constellation. Photo Credit: NASA /Andrew Fruchter

Moving counterclockwise around, is Canis Minor, the Lesser Dog. The only bright star here is Procyon, meaning “before the dog.” Interestingly enough this meaning translates the fact that, Procyon rises above the horizon a few minutes before the brighter star Sirius, whose nickname is “the Dog Star.” Thus, Procyon rises “before the dog.”

Lastly we will end with Canis Major, the Greater Dog. This constellation is home to the bright star Sirius, which is happens to be the brightest star in the night sky! Sirius appears so bright to us because it is both extremely bright and relatively nearby. “Sirius” meaning “Scorching” in Greek. You can spot this friendly dog running back towards his master: Orion. 
What's in the Sky in January?

January 1st -16th Favorable viewing opportunities to see Mercury, which remains in place for the first half of the month. The best view is near Saturn on January 12th.
January 17th The Wolf Moon, also known as the Old Moon and Moon after Yule, will reach its fullest at 6:48pm EST. This moon always shines in or near the stars of Gemini or Cancer. The indigenous Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call it Gichi-manidoo Giizis, the "Great Spirit Moon", a time to honor the silence and recognize one's place within all of Great Mystery's creatures. The Cree of North America call the January full moon Opawahcikanasis, the "Frost Exploding Moon", when trees crackle from the extreme cold temperatures. 
January 25th Third Quarter Moon will occur at 8:41 am EST after rising around midnight and will remain visible in the daytime sky all morning. At the third or last quarter the moon is luminated on its western side. 
Bare Dark Sky Observatory 2021 Visitor Stats
Glenn & Carol Arthur Planetarium Update
You Did It!! Thanks to many generous donations prior to December 31st, the matching 2:1 gift for the Arthur Planetarium was met! Over $75,000 was raised, which meant that an additional $150,000 was given towards the completion of the Planetarium. Thank you VERY much to everyone to contributed! Keep an eye out for the grand opening announcement, coming soon.
Ps. Check out the new sidewalk around the building.
Keep Looking UP! 
The Space Rangers at the
Bare Dark Sky Observatory