NASA releases January sky watching tips as Scotland set to be dazzled by Northern Lights
NASA has released sky watching tips for January as Scotland prepares to be dazzled by "one in a decade" Northern Lights displays in the first month of new year.
Scots are gearing up to enjoy the Aurora Borealis in early 2025 thanks to a rare solar event that is predicted to enhance the visibility of the incredible lightshow this side of the world, according to the Met Office. Scientists have indicated that Scots have a good likelihood of catching sight of the awe-inspiring spectacle in the coming months.
It comes after NASA announced that the sun has reached "solar maximum," which could continue for the next year and keep the Aurora lighting up our skies. The lights have been spotted more often in Scottish regions where they're typically a rarity, prompting locals from Ayrshire to West Lothian to post their impressive photos on social media.
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There are also some other incredible night-time displays to watch out for this month. And NASA has shared their sky watching tips for January 2025, giving Scots the best chance of seeing something spectacular overhead in the coming weeks.
The sky-watching highlights start tonight, Friday, January 3, when the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks. This is a moderate shower, usually delivering 20 to 30 meteors per hour under clear, dark skies at its peak. No interference from the Moon makes this year's peak a better bet for meteor watching, say the experts.
Later in the month, there is a Venus and Saturn conjunction. This occurs when, over a couple of weeks, the two planets come within just a couple of finger widths' distance apart in the sky. They're at their closest on January 17 and 18.
And all month, four planets will be visible. In the first couple of hours after dark, you'll find Venus and Saturn in the southwest, Jupiter high overhead, and Mars in the east. A telescope is needed to see Uranus and Neptune.
Planets always appear along a line in the sky so the "alignment" isn't special, a NASA spokesperson pointed out. What's less common, however, is seeing four or five bright planets at once, which doesn't happen every year.
Stargazers can also clap eyes on Mars at opposition. Throughout January, the Red Planet will sit directly opposite the Sun from Earth and will shine brightly all night. It's in the east as night falls and in the southwest at dawn.
In short, in January, you'll have the opportunity to take in four bright planets in a single, sweeping view, a close approach of Venus and Saturn, Mars occulted by the Moon, meteors, and, hopefully, the Northern Lights too.
Happy sky watching!
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