Welcome to the University of Texas Skywatchers Report for Monday January 13th through Monday January 20th.
The full moon for the month of January is on the night of Wednesday the 15th so we will start the week with a waxing gibbous moon and finish with a waning gibbous moon. This full moon is known as the Old Moon, the Moon After Yule, and the Wolf Moon. This full moon occurs less than three hours after the moon reaches apogee - the point when the moon is farthest away from the earth in its orbit - and will make it the smallest full moon of 2014.
Mercury is low in the west-southwest after sunset and is setting a little less than an hour after the sun at midweek.
Over in the east, Jupiter is up as the sky darkens and is well-placed for observing most of the right. The familiar shape of the winter constellation Orion the Hunter is a little to the south of Jupiter. Look for the moon and Juptier to pair up on Tuesday the 14th.
Mars is rising at midnight this week and will finally be making its way back to early evening viewing by the spring. Saturn is rising at 2:45 a.m. at midweek.
Public viewing on UT campus telescopes will resume next week. Please check back for information on days and times.
Thank you for calling the University of Texas Skywatchers Report.
