TRAC Action Plan: January 2025
- Category: Action Plans
- Author: JM
- Published: 01 Jan 2025
- Last updated: 04 Jan 2025
January 2025 Calendar
- Thu, 02 Jan Ganymede occulted by Jupiter at 21:45
- Fri, 03 Jan Quadrantids peak
- Fri, 03 Jan Moon close to Venus
- Sat, 04 Jan Perihelion – Earth is at its closest point to the Sun
- Sat, 04 Jan Saturn (mag. +1.1) occulted by the Moon
- Mon, 06 Jan First Quarter Moon
- Thu, 09 Jan Moon close to Pleiades after 22:00
- Fri, 10 Jan Venus at greatest elongation (47.2 degrees E)
- Fri, 10 Jan Moon close to Jupiter all evening
- Sun, 12 Jan Mars closest to Earth
- Mon, 13 Jan Full Moon
- Mon, 13 Jan Full Moon close to Mars after 22:00
- Thu, 16 Jan Mars at opposition
- Thu, 16 Jan Moon close to Regulus (Leo) after 21:00
- Sat, 18 Jan Venus close to saturn after 16:00
- Tue, 21 Jan Last Quarter Moon
- Wed, 29 Jan New Moon
This month, we also have many Moon Transit Events on Jupiter and Saturn to observe. Check the timings below because they're too numerous to list here!
Winter Stargazing
Sadly, due to the terrible weather, it was impossible for us to do any stargazing in December 2024. We'll carry over our plans into January and February 2025.
- Winter Constellations
- The Orion Nebula
- Sirius: The Brightest Star in the Sky
- The Winter Triangle
- The Winter Hexagon
Please refer back to the December 2024 Action Plan for the full details.
Open Star Clusters
Towards the end of the month, we'll look out for these open star clusters:
Planets
A parade of planets are visible this month.
TRAC Long-term Goal: See Uranus and Neptune!
Mercury
Mercury (mag. -0.4) will be hard to see now as it's very low in the sky just before sunrise at the start of the month. We'll wait until March 2025 to see Mercury.
Venus
Venus (mag. -4.5) is even brighter than in December and now sets 4.5 hours after sunset. It will reach its greatest eastern elongation on 10 Jan 2025 when it will be 47.2 degrees from the Sun.
As mentioned in last month's plan, we'll aim to observe Venus immediately after sunset while the sky is still light. We want to avoid seeing it against a dark background because the glare it produces is overwhelming.
We're aiming to observe the phase of Venus. The planet will appear to be 50% illuminated on 12 Jan 2025 (Dichotomy ). By the end of January, the phase will be closer to 38% and will start to appear as a crescent through our telescope.
18 Jan 2025: Venus will lie very close to Saturn between 17:30 and 19:30.
Mars
Mars (mag. -1.2) will brighten to mag. -1.4 by the time it reaches opposition on 16 Jan 2025.
Opposition is the best time to observe Mars. The planet will be positioned as high as 63 degrees, lifting the planet out of the turbulent part of the atmosphere low down near Earth's surface.
To see the features on the Martian surface, we will need stable atmospheric conditions. The telescope should be capable of showing us:
- Polar ice cap at Mars' northern pole
- Prominent markings on the surface (mountain ranges)
- Perhaps even some white clouds in the atmosphere
13 Jan 2025: Full Moon close to Mars after 22:00
Since 06 Dec 2024, Mars has been in retrograde, so it's currently drifting westward against the background stars.
Jupiter
Jupiter (mag. -2.6) will be bright and visible all night long – like we're all used to seeing by now!
We're still on the lookout for Jupiter's Great Red Spot (GRS). Check the transit times below to find out when the GRS will be facing in our direction.
Jupiter GRS Transit Times - January 2025
Jupiter Satellite Event Times - January 2025
We'll also aim to observe a couple more Jovian moon shadow transits.
14 Jan 2025: Callisto (mag. +5.7) will be positioned 3 arcseconds from Jupiter's northern pole at 17:20. This is a fairly rare event and occurs because Jupiter is approaching an equinox. Soon we might be able to observe some rare Callisto transits (and shadow transits) of Jupiter.
Saturn
Saturn (mag. +1.1) is still easily seen in Aquarius, but it now sets by 21:30.
Once again, two Titan shadow transits we could potentially observe this month. These shadow transits are worth trying to observe because we don't get to see them very often. There's a gap of 13 years where none can be seen!
04 Jan 2025: The Moon will occult Saturn.
Uranus
Uranus (mag. +5.7) is visible all night long just south-west of the Pleiades on the boundary between Taurus and Aries.
It should be possible for us to locate Uranus on a night with good seeing. Hopefully, it will appear with a greenish hue in the telescope.
Neptune
Neptune (mag. +7.9) is best seen at the start of January as it will gradually lose altitude. Neptune remains the only planet that no one at TRAC has ever seen.
We will never give up trying to observe Neptune!
Moon Shadow Transits
Please refer to the November 2024 Action Plan for more information about moon shadow transits.
We successfully observed another Io shadow transit in December 2024. Our aim this month will be to witness both a Jovian moon and its shadow crossing the planet.
The shadow cast by each moon will transit its planet at the following times:
| Date | Time | Planet | Moon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, 02 Jan | 22:40 – 00:52 | Jupiter | Io |
| Sat, 04 Jan | 17:09 – 19:20 | Jupiter | Io |
| Tue, 07 Jan | 16:24 – 21:32 | Saturn | Titan |
| Fri, 10 Jan | 16:00 – 18:45 | Jupiter | Europa |
| Sat, 11 Jan | 19:04 – 21:16 | Jupiter | Io |
| Mon, 13 Jan | 18:29 – 21:00 | Jupiter | Ganymede |
| Fri, 17 Jan | 18:46 – 21:21 | Jupiter | Europa |
| Sat, 18 Jan | 20:55 – 23:10 | Jupiter | Io |
| Mon, 20 Jan | 18:38 – 00:56 | Jupiter | Ganymede |
| Thu, 23 Jan | 15:28 – 21:00 | Saturn | Titan |
| Fri, 24 Jan | 21:21 – 23:57 | Jupiter | Europa |
| Sat, 25 Jan | 22:55 – 01:07 | Jupiter | Io |
| Mon, 27 Jan | 17:24 – 19:36 | Jupiter | Io |
Timings are in UT and may vary by a few minutes.
The timings listed for the Ganymede transit on 20 Jan 2025 start with the transit of the moon and end with the transit of its shadow. Due to Ganymede's size, we might be able to see it transit the planet.
The Io shadow transit on 18 Jan 2025 will line up with the transit of Jupiter's GRS. At 21:15, Io will lie slightly above the GRS, and its shadow will fall further east.
We'll need an exceptionally clear night to witness a Titan shadow transit since this will push the telescope to its absolute maximum limit. It will be very difficult to observe, and success is not guaranteed.
Full listings of Jovian moon transits, shadow transits, occultations, and eclipses can be viewed here: Jupiter Satellite Event Times - January 2025.
Ganymede Occulted by Jupiter
02 Jan 2025: A series of events involving two Galilean moons will take place:
- 21:45 - Ganymede occulted by Jupiter.
- 22:01 - Io transit starts.
- 22:45 - Io's shadow transit starts.
- 23:52 - Ganymede reappears from behind Jupiter.
- 00:12 - Io transit ends.
- 00:19 - Ganymede eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow.
- 00:52 - Io's shadow eclipsed by Jupiter's shadow.
Ganymede is the largest moon in the Solar System - it's larger than Mercury.
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
New Year Meteors
The annual Quadrantid meteor shower peaks on 03 Jan 2025. It's one of the best meteor showers of the year.
The meteors are bright bluish-white or yellowish-white, and under ideal conditions, it can be possible to see up to 110 meteors per hour. The shower's radiant point is located above Boötes.
If the weather cooperates, 2025 ought to be a great year for the Quadrantids after the Moon sets at 20:30.
How to See it
Like all meteor showers, the Quadrantids will be best viewed from the park where we enjoy a wide view of the sky, well away from the street lights. For the Quadrantids, we'll be looking NE.
Many amateur astronomers don't observe the Quadrantids due to the cold weather, but us TRAC members are a tough bunch, and the chilly conditions will not deter us!
Lunar Observations
January 2025 Lunar Calendar
- First Quarter Mon 06
- Full Moon Mon 13
- Last Quarter Tue 21
- New Moon Thu 29
Like in 2024, the full moon falls around the middle of the month.
Moon Conjunctions
Conjunctions involving the Moon and a planet or a bright star, though fairly common, always provide good photo opportunities. This month is packed with celestial close encounters. Here's what to look out for:
| Date | Approx Time | Planet/Star | Moon Phase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, 03 Jan 2025 | 16:00 - 19:00 | Venus | 16% - Crescent |
| Thu, 09 Jan 2025 | After 22:00 | Pleiades | 82% - Waxing Gibbous |
| Fri, 10 Jan 2025 | All Evening | Jupiter | 89% - Waxing Gibbous |
| Mon, 13 Jan 2025 | After 22:00 | Mars | 100% - Full Moon |
| Thu, 16 Jan 2025 | After 21:00 | Regulus (Leo) | 90% - Waning Gibbous |
On 13 Jan 2025, later is better, and the Moon and Mars will also be close to Castor and Pollux in Gemini.
- Read more about conjunctions:
What Is a Conjunction? (Time and Date)
Lunar Occultation of Saturn
04 Jan 2025: The Moon (mag. -11.2) will occult Saturn (mag. +1.1).
At 17:18, the 25% lit waxing crescent Moon will pass in front of Saturn, occulting the planet for around an hour. The planet will reappear at 18:26. These times are only a rough guide.
Both objects will be SSW at an altitude of 28 degrees. Ideally, we want to view this event from the park.
We missed the Lunar Occultation of Mars on 18 Dec 2024 due to the bad weather. This event will be great to witness because TRAC has never observed the Moon occult a planet.
Admin Tasks
Website Content
We still need to review the photos and videos taken in the last months of 2024 and add the best ones to the website.
The password-protected "members only area" is up and running. Maybe you can think of some stuff that can be posted there.
Krum is going to help me create a page for Zak, our club mascot.
Most TRAC members have now added their profile to the "Meet the Team" page. Our next task is to create avatars to put alongside our names, then the page can be published.
Planning for 2025
It's the start of a new year. Have a think about what you'd like to do at astronomy club in 2025.
- Which activities/projects did you enjoy most so far?
- What could be improved or extended?
- Which astronomical events are you most looking forward to in 2025?
- Are there any other aspects of astronomy you would like to explore?
We have a few budding astrophotographers in our ranks, so I think night sky photography is definitely an area that we'll investigate further in 2025.
I look forward to hearing about other ideas you come up with!
Summary
Top Priorities for January 2025
In descending order of importance:
- Lunar Occultation of Saturn
- Mars at Opposition
- Uranus
- Phase of Venus
- Jupiter's GRS
- Moon Shadow Transits
- Winter Night Sky & The Orion Nebula
- Moon Conjunctions
- Neptune
We'll also try to cover as much as we can from the December 2024 Action Plan, including the Orion Nebula and the major winter constellations, while keeping our eyes peeled for some meteors at the start of the month.
Anything we don't get a chance to see will be carried over into February.
January Astrophotography
The numerous Moon-Planet conjunctions should provide some opportunities for you to practice your photography skills. And the shadow transits will push your phone's camera to its limit!
2025 Mission Update
Seeing Uranus and Neptune are now part of our long-term goals.
We need ideas for what our main mission should be for the year ahead.
Happy New Year!
"Happy New Year" to all our friends, families, and neighbours from everyone at the Taverners Road Astronomy Club! Best wishes for the year ahead – let's hope for many, many, many clear skies for stargazing!
James M
TRAC Team Leader
01 Jan 2025 – Rainham, Kent
TRAC is an amateur astronomy group based in Rainham (Kent) in the United Kingdom.
On clear nights, you'll find us outside, observing stars, planets, moons, galaxies, satellites, meteors, and comets.
This action plan is specifically tailored for our location, schedules, optical equipment, level of experience, personal interests, and local sky conditions.
Unless stated otherwise, all magnitude values refer to apparent magnitude and have usually been rounded to one decimal place.
We welcome any questions, feedback, or suggestions you may have. Please let us know if anything is unclear or if you notice an error, inaccuracy, or typo. Contact us via email.
© 2025 Taverners Road Astronomy Club