What is the dot tonight next to the Moon? A Guide to the Stars from January 27 to February 2

What is the dot tonight next to the Moon" ? You're not the only one who has recently looked up at the Moon and seen a bright dot close by. Skywatchers have been interested in this event for hundreds of years, and this week, from January 27 to February 2, is a particularly interesting time to see it.

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2/1/20254 min read

Which bright dot you see is Mercury? Mercury is the tiniest and closest planet to the Sun. The Moon will travel through the stars Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces during this time, making for a beautiful background for this planetary meeting. This week, Mercury is the star of the night sky. Let's look into what's going on in more detail.

Moving Through the Stars: The Moon's Trip

The Moon will move through four constellations from January 27 to February 2: Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces. Here are some facts about these important constellations in science and mythology.

1. Sagittarius (The Archer): One of the most well-known stars at night, Sagittarius is often shown as a centaur drawing a bow. The fact that it faces the middle of the Milky Way makes it a great place to look at the stars. At the beginning of the week, the Moon will be close to Sagittarius's "teapot" asterism. This is a unique group of stars that looks like a teapot.

2. Capricornus, also known as "The Sea Goat," is a faint constellation that was important to many ancient cultures. It is one of the oldest known constellations and is often linked to the winter solstice. When the Moon moves into Capricornus, it will look like it is closer to the sky, which will make it a little harder to see.

3. Aquarius (The Water Bearer): In mythology, Aquarius is a big sign that stands for water and rain. It is home to many deep-sky objects, such as the planetary nebula Helix Nebula, which is sometimes called the "Eye of God." When the Moon goes to Aquarius, it will be in its fading crescent phase, which makes it harder to see but still interesting.

4. Pisces (The Fishes): This constellation looks like two fish that are hooked up by a rope. There are twelve constellations in the sky, and this one is in a place called the "celestial sea." When the Moon gets to Pisces, it will be getting close to the New Moon phase, which will make it almost impossible to see at night.

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Venus is the bright dot next to the Moon.

This week, the bright dot near the Moon, Mercury, is the most noticeable thing in the night sky. Being so close to the Sun makes it hard to see, which makes Mercury hard to find. But this week is one of the few times you might be able to see it in the evening sky.

Why can I see Mercury now?

How well you can see Mercury depends on where it is in relation to the Sun and Earth. This week, Mercury hits its greatest eastern elongation, which means that from Earth, it is the farthest from the Sun in terms of angle. This makes it easy to look at the sky in the evening, right after the Sun goes down. Mercury looks like a bright star-like object near the Moon at this time.

What to Do to See Mercury

If you want to see Mercury, look toward the west just after the Sun goes down. It will look like a bright, steady dot next to the thin crescent Moon. Planets like Mercury shine with a steady light while stars sparkle. However, if the sky is clear, you can see Mercury with just your eyes. Binoculars or a small telescope will help.

Mercury Facts You May Not Know

Mercury is the tiniest planet in the solar system. Its width is only 4,880 kilometers, which is about 3,032 miles.

- Its path is very elliptical, so it only takes 88 Earth days to go around the Sun.

- Venus has the hottest atmosphere, so even though Mercury is close to the Sun, it is not the hottest planet.

- The surface of Mercury is full of holes, just like the Moon's. It doesn't have any moons or rings.

When the Moon is new, it's dark and beautiful.

The Moon will be in its New Moon phase on January 29, marking the beginning of a new lunar cycle. In this phase, the Moon is between the Earth and the Sun, and the side that is lit up faces away from us. In the night sky, this means that the moon disc will be hard to see.

What does the New Moon mean?

Many countries consider the New Moon a time to start over and improve things. It's often linked to making plans, starting new things, and thinking about how you've grown as a person. Astronomically, the New Moon is a great time to look at the stars because there is no sunlight, so the sky is darker, and the stars are brighter.

Looking at the Stars at Night When the Moon is new

Now that we can't see the Moon, the stars and planets shine brightly. Mercury will be bright this week, and the constellations Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces will stand out more. You can also look for other things in the sky, like the Orion Nebula, the Pleiades star cluster, and the Andromeda Galaxy.