This month’s chart

This chart shows how the sky will appear at midnight tonight, 11pm on Jan 15 and 10pm on Jan 31. The planets are shown with the location and phase of the Moon at five-day intervals. The Moon is full on Jan 2 and on Jan 31. The full Moon on Jan 2 is a perigee full Moon, the closest of 2018. Stars are shown as circles; the larger the circle the brighter the star. The hazy area is the Milky Way.

Orientate the chart by holding it in front of you rotated so the compass bearing at the bottom matches the direction you’re facing. The bottom of the chart reflects your horizon, with the middle representing the view directly above your head. The chart is designed to be viewed using a red torch, which allows you to see its detail without ruining your night vision.