Download January

Earth/Space Highlights
MONTHLY CALENDAR
JAN.
January - Juanuarius, month of the God Janus, who faces both
forward and
backward through the door (Roman God). The first
month of the Gregorian
calendar year.
Full Moon - (Called the Old Moon or Moon After Yule - Yule is
Time). January 16, 1995 about 3:27 P.M.
20:27 UT (Universal Time)
Christmas
Morning Stars - Venus and Jupiter.
Evening Stars - Saturn, Mars and Mercury.
Special Events Anticipated:
METEOR SHOWERS - Quadrantid Meteor Showers the first week of the month. Best
seen after midnight and early morning and conditions are expected to be ideal.
However, the number of meteors are expected to be below average and very close to
the Northern horizon. Atmospheric velocity of the meteors, speed falling into the
atmosphere, is about 100 miles per second. The meteors' apparent speed as seen
from the Earth's surface is primarily determined by the direction of each meteor's
approach and ranges from approximately 72,000 mph (for objects moving generally in
the same direction as the Earth) to approximately 5,040,000 mph (for meteors arriving
head-on to the Earth).
COMETS - None expected until April and two in May, 1995.
EQUATION OF TIME - On January 15 the sum is "running slow" 9 minutes. Solar
noon will be nine minutes later than the clock on the wall.
SPECIAL STARS AND CONSTELLATIONS - Orion, the Hunter, is the most known of
the wintertime constellations. The hour-glass shaped hunter is easily observed in the
Southerly part of the sky. His belt and scabbard divide the hourglass. His sword held
high above his head in his right hand while his two hunting dogs - Canis Major (the big
dog) and Canis Minor (the little dog) to the West follow Orion. Other constellations to
note: Taurus, Perseus, Andromeda, Pegasus (the great square of Pegasus the flying
horse - the symbol of Mobil gas - is to the Northeast near the horizon), Gemini, Canis
Major, Aurica and Leo. Stars: Betelgense (red star) and Rigel (blue) in Orion;
Aldebaran (a giant red star, the red eye of the Bull - Taurus); Pleiades star group in the
hump of the Bull's shoulders; Sirius, the brightest winter star in Canis Major; Others Castor, Pollux, Capella and Regulus.
Earth at Perihelion January 4, approximately 92,185,531 miles from the Sun. Earth
closest to the Sun. This hardly affects our temperatures (the tilt of the axis does).
January 14 is January 1 for the Julian Calendar which superseded the present
Gregorian Calendar. This is the first day of the Roman Year 2748 A.U.C. (ab urbe
condita).
VISIBLE ZODIAC SIGNS:
Westerly to Easterly across the night sky are: Leo, Cancer, Gemini, Taurus, Aries and
Pisces. Sun enters Zodiac sign: Capricornus.
Sun Rise - Jan. 1 = 7:30 am
Sun Set - Jan. 1 = 4:52 pm
Sun Rise - Dec. 31 = 7:18 am
Sun Set - Dec. 31 = 5:27 pm
Total Daylight Hours on Jan. 1 = 9 Hrs. 22 Min.
on Jan. 31= 10 Hrs. 09 Min.
Total Daylight Hours
Direct sun rays on Jan. 15 is at latitude 21 deg. South.
Daytime high temperature, Jan. 1 =37 deg., Jan. 31 =37 deg.
Nighttime low temperature, Jan. 1 =23 deg., Jan. 31 =22 deg.
Monthly average temperature for Jan. = 30 deg. F.
Average snowfall for our area is 32 inches annually.
average is about 9 to 11 inches.
January's snow fall
Meteorological Winter begins January 4.
Astronomical Winter began December 21.
NOTE WORTHY:
FOR JANUARY 1995
Interesting to note - there are two new moon phases this month making thirteen New
Moons this year. The moon rises 50 minutes later each day. Since Moon phases get
about a day earlier each month, the first phase in January will occur 13 times in the
year and will be the last phase in December. Also, because of the shortness of
February, it sometimes contains only 3 phases. Thus, this year there are two new
Moons in January, none in February and two again in March. Also, there are two first
quarters in October. All merely the effect of our calendar with its irregular months of
about 31, 30 and 28 days; whereas, the true moon cycles average 29.53 of our days.
Confusing, perhaps a little, but just enjoy the moon phases and activity as it joins us in
our journey about the Universe.
The Milky Way crosses over head diagonally Southeast to Northwest on January
evenings. We are looking into our spiral arm and through our Galaxy. Planets:
Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn - all offer fantastic telescopic views this month.
esmc95.Jan