Calendar observer on January 2013 - the next issue of the monthly periodical for the Amateurs of astronomy. It provides information about planets, comets, asteroids, variable stars and astronomical phenomena of the month, and the last major news astronomy. Describes phenomena in the system of the four large satellites of Jupiter. There are also maps to search for comets and asteroids. In order to have information about heavenly bodies and the main events of the month, download the archive file KN and print it on your printer.


THE MONTH

Main astronomical events of the month are:
January 1 - Comet LINEAR (C/2012 K5) in the best visibility conditions in 2013
January 2 - the Earth at perihelion
January 4 - the maximum effect of a meteor shower the Quadrantids
January 5 - Ceres approaches with a star Elnet to 2.4 degrees
January 16 - the End visibility of Venus to the naked eye in the middle latitudes
January 18 - mercury in the upper connection with the Sun
January 18 - Vesta comes close to the star Aldebaran to 2.4 degrees
January 30 - Jupiter standing right ascension (transition to direct movement)
31 January or early evening visibility of mercury in the middle latitudes to the naked eye.


Calendar observer congratulates all fans of astronomy a happy new year 2013 and wishes clear sky, successful observations, new discoveries and new knowledge about the Universe! This year, comet C/2012 S1 (ISON), open Vitaly Nevsky and Artem Novichenko, will perihelion (29 November 2013) and according to the calculations will reach Shine 10m! This will be the first so bright comet, open our compatriots! The ephemerides of the comet and map its way will be published monthly in this KN KN your constant companion in the planning of observations in 2013!

The sun moves across the constellation Sagittarius until January 20, and then enters the constellation of Capricorn. The decline of the Central body is gradually increasing, and the duration of the day is increasing, reaching by the end of month 8 hours 32 minutes at the latitude of Moscow. The height of midday Sun for a month at this latitude will increase from 11 to 16 degrees. January is not the best month for observations of the Sun, however, to observe new formations on the surface of the daytime running lights can be virtually any telescope or binoculars. But do not forget to apply sunscreen!

In 2013, the Moon will begin movement on the celestial sphere at the border of the constellations Cancer and Leo when phase 0.89 and the best conditions for its observations will be between the first and last quarter. Moving through the constellation of Leo, the waning moon oval on the first day of the year will be located South of the regulation and shall enter in the constellation of the Sextant, which will stay until midnight on January 3, reducing the phase up to 0.73. After that day on the southern part of the constellation Leo, the Moon will go towards the constellation Virgo, where to go in the evening, reaching phase of 0.65. In this constellation January 5, will come the last quarter, and then the moon polydisk will converge with Spikol, passing to the South of this star.

By midnight on the 7th of January (Christmas) phase melting sickle reaches 0,31 and it will go in the constellation Libra, having acquainted with Saturn. Until midnight on 9 January aging month will have time to visit constellation of Scorpio and go into the constellation Ophiuchus, reducing phase to 0.12. In the constellation of Sagittarius a thin Crescent moon will pass in the morning of January 10, near the bright Venus. This phenomenon is best seen at the South of the country. In the constellation of Sagittarius at the end of the day on January 11, comes the phase of the moon (with the approach of mercury), and January 12, the Moon enters the constellation of Capricorn, appearing in the night sky in the form of very thin growing sickle.

On the evening of January 13 young months (p= 0,04) will be observed near Mars, January 14, during the phase of 0.11 - near Neptune already in the constellation of Aquarius. In the constellation of Pisces Moon will pass the evening of January 16 in phase little bit less than 0.2 and begin a rapprochement with Uranium, which will reach 17 January, increasing phase to 0.33. In the constellation of Pisces and Aries night light will stage the first quarter of the 19th of January, and then the moon polydisk will go towards the constellation of Taurus, where to go in the morning on January 21, when the phase of about 0.7.

Around midnight on January 22 the Moon (f= 0,75) will be between Yagami and the Pleiades the Jupiter and Vesta. on January 24, bright lunar disk will visit the Orion constellation, and on the same day go into the constellation Gemini. on January 26, the Moon will enter in the constellation Cancer, where he will phase of the full moon on January 27. On the next day of the lunar disk enters the constellation of Leo and move by analogy with the beginning of the month, around midnight, January 31, going to the constellation of Virgo in phase 0,86 ending their way through the January sky during the phase of 0.77.

Of the major planets of the Solar system in January, good conditions observations have everything except mercury and Venus.

Mercury in the first half of the month is the morning visibility, but it is not visible, hiding in the rays of the rising Sun. The entire month of mercury moves direct traffic. First on the constellation of Sagittarius (19 January) and then the constellation of Capricorn, gradually approaching Mars and Neptune. The brilliance of the planet for the month increased from 0,6m to -1,2m, and phase takes the value 1. The apparent diameter is around 5 seconds of arc for the entire month. Evening appearance of the planet will begin at the end of the month when it will appear in the rays of the setting Sun over the southwestern horizon.

Venus moves direct traffic on the constellation Ophiuchus, January 6, passing in the constellation of Sagittarius the end of the month. The morning Star in the beginning of the month there about an hour before sunrise over the South-Eastern horizon at elongation less than 21 degrees. By the middle of the month, the visibility of its ends, and she hides in the rays of the rising Sun. The apparent diameter of the planet is about 10 seconds of arc during the growing phase more than 0,95 and Shine -3,7m. The telescope is seen little white disk with no detail.

Mars entire month available for observations in the evenings at the southwestern horizon for one hour (in the form of a weak yellow star). Mysterious planet moves in the same direction with the Sun in the constellation of Capricorn to 29 January, and then enters the constellation of Aquarius. The brilliance of the planet the entire month has a value of 1.2 m and apparent diameter is around 5 seconds of arc. In the telescope's visible tiny disc with blurred parts of the surface.

Jupiter moves back down the constellation of Taurus (in the direction of Head), reaching standing on 30 January and changing the movement directly. The extent of Jupiter is reduced from 14 to 10 hours (in the middle latitudes). The apparent diameter of Jupiter is reduced from 47 to 43 seconds of arc with a decreasing Shine from -2,6m to 2,4m. These factors make Jupiter best object for observation among the planets. 4 large satellites of Jupiter visible even with binoculars.

Saturn entire month moved to direct traffic on the constellation of Libra. Saturn is observed at night and in the morning, in the early months of 4.5 hours, and by the end of January rapidly increasing extent to 6 hours. Shine Saturn is +0,5m in the visible diameter of about 17 seconds of arc. In a small telescope can be observed surface details, ring and satellite Titan.

Uranus moves direct traffic on the constellation of Pisces to the right of the stars 44 Psc. Uranium can be seen with the naked eye in the absence of illumination and transparent sky (first half of the month). The visibility of the planet in the middle latitudes decreases from 7 to 4.5 hours. Uranus has an angular diameter of 3.6 angular seconds. Satellites of Uranus have glitter weaker 13-14m.

Neptune moves direct traffic on the constellation of Aquarius. Shine planet is 7,8m, and the apparent diameter of 2.3 angular seconds. You can watch it with binoculars in the evenings with decreasing extent from 4 hours to 1 hour. Satellites of Neptune have weaker 13m. In order to consider the disks of Uranus and Neptune, will need a telescope with a diameter of 80mm lens from, and increased more than 100 times and transparent sky. Search maps of distant planets there are in the Calendar observer on January 2013 and Astronomical calendar 2013.

From the brightest comets will PANSTARRS (C/2011 L4) with glitter 9 - 7m which will move through the constellations Scorpio and South of the Crown, but it's the observation conditions unfavorable because of the large negative moods and low elongation. Comet LINEAR (C/2012 K5), which in January moves around the constellation of Auriga, Taurus, Orion and Eridan, will be more accessible object when you Shine at the beginning of the month brighter 9m.

Among the asteroids are the brightest Ceres and Vesta, which are located near the confrontation with the Sun to Shine around 7m. Both asteroid moves around the constellation of Taurus on being observed all night Vesta near Jupiter and Head, and Ceres near stars Elnet.

Among the most active meteor showers will be the Quadrantids (ZHR= 120). Maximum flow will be approximately 7 hours GMT on 4 January.

Clear sky and successful observations!