ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR JANUARY 2010

Sky Chart For The Month of January, 2010

Night Sky Chart of Jan., 2010

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR JANUARY 2010

The Moon

Last quarter occurs on 7th at h. 16-09 I.S.T.	New Moon occurs on 15th at h. 12-41 I.S.T.
First quarter occurs on 23rd at h. 16-23 I.S.T.	Full Moon occurs on 30th at h. 11-48 I.S.T.

The Lunar Crescent *becomes first visible after the New Moon* day in the evening of 16th.**
*The Moon is at Perigee* or nearest to the Earth on 2^nd and 30th, and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 17th.**

The Moon passes about 7 º south of Mars on 3^rd, about 8 º south of Saturn just after midnight of 6^th i.e. on 7th, about 4 ½º south of Mercury on 13^th, about 1½º north of Venus on 15^th, about 3½º north of Neptune on18^th, about 4½º north of Jupiter on 18th, 6º north of Uranus on 20^thand about 6½º south of Mars on 30^th.

The Earth

The Earth approaches the Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 3^rd.

Eclipse

Annular Eclipse of the Sun : The phenomenon will occur on 15^th January, 2010. The eclipse begins at 09-35 I.S.T. and ends at 15-38 I.S.T. The annularity will be visible from the southern tip of the country and partial phase will be visible throughout the country.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet is too near the Sun to be visible upto 9^th of the month, being in Inferior Conjunction with the Sun on 5^th. Thereafter it rises about 1 hour to 1½ hours before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 15^th. The planet is in Greatest Western Elongation of about 25º from the Sun on 27^th.

Venus: The planet is too near to the Sun to be visible throughout the month, being in Superior Conjunction with the Sun on 12^th. The planet approaches Aphelion position in its orbit and reaches farthest from the Sun on 24^th.

Mars: It rises in the eastern sky about 3 hours to 2 hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 1½ hours to 1 hour after it upto third quarter of the month and about 1 hour to ½ hour after it for the remaining days of the month. The Planet is in Opposition with the Sun on 30^th.

Jupiter: The planet can be seen in the evening in the western sky after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 3½ hours to 2½ hours after sunset upto second quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Saturn: The planet rises before local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 1 hour before local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 2 hours before it upto 3^rd quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 3 hours before it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes retrograde with respect to the Earth on 13^th.

Uranus: The planet can be seen in the evening towards the western sky after sunset. It sets about 1½ hours to 2 hours before local midnight upto first quarter of the month, about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it upto second quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 3 hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 3 hours to 3½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet is visible in the evening in the western sky after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 3 hours to 2 hours after sunset upto second quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 1 hour after it for the remaining days of the month.

Conjunction of Planets :

Mercury passes about 3½º north of Venus on 5th.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
*Mercury (Budha)*	*Remains in Sagittarius (Dhanus).*	+2.7 to -0.2
*Venus (Sukra)*	*Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricornus (Makara) on 14^th.*	-4.0
*Mars (Mangala)*	*Remains in Cancer (Karkata)*	-0.8 to -1.2
*Jupiter (Brihaspati)*	*Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).*	-2.1
*Saturn (Sani)*	*Remains in Virgo (Kanya)*	+0.8
Uranus	*Moves from Aquarius (Kumbha) to Pieces (Mina) on 27^th.*	+6.0
Neptune	*Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).*	+8.0

Source : : Director

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.