Learn the Winter Hexagon

The middle of January provides some cold but clear dark hours for stargazing. The Moon phase grows from gibbous this week to full Moon on January 25.

Our largest planet Jupiter appears just below and right of the Moon on January 18. Observe the grouping with binoculars on that evening. Telescope and binocular views of the Moon become uncomfortably bright as the Moon grows each day.

On January 19, the Moon passes through a loose association of stars in Aries. Below and right of the Moon is the blue planet Uranus. We will try to see it Friday evening at Lucile Miller Observatory.

The full winter hexagon of stars is in the east by 8 p.m. now. The stars Rigel, Sirius, Procyon, Pollux, Capella, and Aldebaran outline the hexagon. These are all bright stars and the hexagon is large. Look for the Moon between Capella to the upper left and Aldebaran to the lower right on January 21.

The three stars of the belt of Orion form a vertical line. Follow the line up to the bright orange star Aldebaran. Follow the line down to the brightest star in the sky, Sirius or the Dog Star.

From Orion’s belt, the bright bluish star to the right is Rigel. The brighter orange star to the left of the belt is Betelgeuse.

From Sirius, move left and up to the bright star Procyon. From Procyon move up and left to the bright pair of stars of Pollux and Castor in Gemini. Move up and right to the bright cream color star Capella in Auriga.

The orange star Aldebaran is the eye of Taurus the Bull. Notice the large cluster of stars to the right of Aldebaran. This is the Hyades Cluster marking the head of Taurus.

It resembles a “V” lying on its left side. Explore the Hyades with binoculars.

Move up from the Hyades to the Pleiades or Seven Sisters cluster, also part of Taurus. Explore the tiny dipper shaped Pleiades with binoculars.

Everyone should learn the stars in the Winter Hexagon. Enjoy the cold nights!

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