Hi, I'm Sonia,
I have been into astronomy since 1997 when I was 11 years old when comet Hale Bopp was around. I remember being in the back garden with my dad and he was showing me how to take a photo of it with his old Fujica camera, that I still have now.
Ever since then I've been fascinated with space. I started with a very cheap Tasco telescope from Argos to look at the moon, went onto a Meade goto etx 90 telescope, which unfortunately due to age stopped working.
For a very long time and currently using a skywatcher 10" Dobsonian, to mostly photograph the moon and also the planets with a moon filter. Seestar S50 which has now got me into deep sky imaging which I love! And lastly a Coronado PST for solar imaging.
I have two BscHons open degrees in Introducing Astronomy and the planets.
Elected in 2023 to become a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, Vice President for the Manchester Astronomical Society.
Currently a freelancer for the BBC sky at night magazine.
Clear Skies
Sonia
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Happy 2026 everyone, 2025 went by in a blink of an eye!
As the new year begins, the night sky invites us to pause, look up, and reconnect with the quiet wonder above our heads. January’s crisp air brings sharper stars, familiar constellations such as Orion return to their seasonal stages, and the long evenings offer space to rediscover the simple joy of stargazing. Whether you’re stepping outside with a telescope, a pair of binoculars or just your own curiosity, this is the perfect moment to set new intentions for exploring the cosmos. Each clear night is a reminder that even in busy times, the universe keeps offering beauty, perspective, and a sense of possibility, waiting patiently for us to notice.
So what can we see in January 2026?
https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury/
January is one of the richest months for the UK stargazing: long dark night, crisp air and some of the brightest stars and planets of the year. Below is a detailed guide of what you can see along with some practical observing tips along the way..
Winter Constellations
January is peak season for the iconic winter sky. Orion dominates the South in the late evening, with it’s bright belt stars Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka lying over 1200 light years away, clearly visible even in light-polluted areas.
What is best to see
Orion nebula (M42) A glowing star-forming region below Orion’s belt, best seen on or around a new moon, when the sky is the darkest. The winter triangle is a bright asterism formed by Sirius, Betelgeuse and Procyon, visible even from Urban areas. Taurus – look for the V-shaped Hyades cluster and the compact Pleiades (M45)
Gemini – Castor and Pollux right high in the east.
The Moon
https://moonphases.co.uk/moon-calendar/2026/1/8
New moon mid January, provides the darkest skies for deep-sky observing. Also ideal for spotting Orion Nebula, Beehive Cluster and Andromeda Galaxy.
Planets visible in January
Jupiter – visible most of the night , rising around sunset and setting near sunrise. It will be near opposition, closest to Earth on the 9th January, making it brighter and larger in telescopes. It has so far put on a magnificent display as it gets closer to Earth. It’s currently visible all night long in the constellation of Gemini with a magnitude of -2.7. With a pair of binoculars you will be able to see the four moons.
Saturn – Best seen just after sunset in the Southwest before it sets mid evening, shining at a magnitude of +1.0.
Uranus & Neptune are both visible after sunset; Uranus is binocular friendly at a magnitude of +5.7. Whilst Neptune is about 3 degrees above Saturn in the constellation Pisces with a magnitude of +7.8 and only visible with binoculars or a telescope and sets around 10pm, so be sure to be early to see this one.
Planets Mercury & Venus are too close to the sun to Observe.
22nd & 23rd the moon will be near Saturn
27th Moon occults the Pleiades
30th and 31st the moon will be near Jupiter.
Observing tips for January
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Choose the right conditions: the clear cold nights offer the best transparency – winter air holds less moisture.
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Avoid nights with high humidity or haze, which scatter light.
Work around the moon
For faint objects (nebulae, galaxies, clusters) observe within +3 days of the New moon
For planets and bright stars, moonlight is less of an issue.
Pick a good location
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Find a spot away from city lights with a clear view of the horizon.
Let your eyes adapt
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Give yourself 20-30 minutes of darkness for full night vision
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Avoid phone screens or use a red-light mode
Dress for deep winter
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Thermal layers
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Insulated boots
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Gloves you can operate equipment with
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Hat & Scarf
Use the right gear – Binoculars (7x50 or 10x50) are perfect for the Pleiades, Orion Nebula and Beehive Cluster.
A small telescope (80-150mm) reveals Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings and nebula detail.
Use a sky app such as Stellarium or SkySafari to help you identify constellations and track planet positions.
Enjoy the January night sky, and be sure to come back to find out what’s in the night sky for February!
Clear Skies!
Sonia
