ISO 2026-W02
Week begins: Monday, January 5, 2026
Calendar
| Date | Zodiac day | Events |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Jan 5, 2026 | ♑ 16 | Finest NGC 19 / NGC 1491 · Sh 2-206 —  — Northern Winter |
| Tue, Jan 6, 2026 | ♑ 17 | Finest NGC 20 / NGC 1501 · PN G144.5+06.5 — 12 12.0 — Northern WinterFinest NGC 23 / NGC 1514 · Crystal Ball Nebula — 11 10.8 — Northern Winter |
| Wed, Jan 7, 2026 | ♑ 18 | α Hor —  4 3.9 — Southern WinterFinest NGC 22 / NGC 1535 · Cleopatra's Eye — 9 9.4 — Tropical Winterα Ret —  3 3.3 — Southern Winter |
| Thu, Jan 8, 2026 | ♑ 19 | 40 Eridani B (ο² Eridani B) — — Tropical Winter |
| Fri, Jan 9, 2026 | ♑ 20 | |
| Sat, Jan 10, 2026 | ♑ 21 | 🌗 Last Quarter — 15:48:24 UTC C41 / Hyades · Hyades — 1 1.0 — Tropical Winter |
| Sun, Jan 11, 2026 | ♑ 22 |
Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris
Snapshot: Week begins January 5, 2026, 00:00 UTC.
(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)
| Body | ☉︎ | ☽︎ | ☿︎ | ♀︎ | ♂︎ | ♃︎ | ♄︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♑︎ 14°39′ β +0°00′ | ♌︎ 6°11′ β +2°52′ | ♑︎ 4°48′ β −0°59′ | ♑︎ 14°14′ β −0°39′ | ♑︎ 15°46′ β −0°55′ | ♋︎ 20°50′ β +0°15′ | ♓︎ 26°25′ β −2°15′ |
| Observing |  | -12.3 | ☉︎ | ☉︎ | ☉︎ | -2.7 | 1.0 |
| Rise | 07:33 | 17:57 | 07:01 | 07:37 | 07:44 | 16:47 | 10:58 |
| Set | 16:27 | 09:11 | 15:34 | 16:20 | 16:26 | 08:06 | 22:36 |
Extended targets:
| Body | ⚳︎ | ♅︎ | ♆︎ | ♇︎ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecliptic | ♈︎ 7°57′ β −8°37′ | ♉︎ 27°51′ β −0°12′ | ♓︎ 29°34′ β −1°20′ | ♒︎ 2°50′ β −3°46′ |
| Observing | 8.9 | 5.7 | 7.8 | ☉︎ |
| Rise | 11:56 | 13:13 | 11:00 | 08:59 |
| Set | 23:23 | 04:05 | 22:54 | 17:43 |
β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.
Planet Finder
Sky Notes
Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-11 22:55:44 UTC
ISO 2026-W02 runs from January 5 through January 11. Venus and Mars are separated by about 1.5° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. To find Venus, first identify Sagittarius, trace the Teapot of Sagittarius, and locate Nunki in that pattern. Venus lies about 1.8° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Nunki to the planet.
Naked eye: 🌗 Last Quarter — 15:48:24 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use α Ret as the week’s fixed-sky framework.
Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -12.3; direct motion; 96.5% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -0.6; direct motion; 96.6% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 06 16:36 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Mars: In solar glare; magnitude 1.1; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 09 11:41 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 8.9; direct motion; 97.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Jupiter: Naked eye; magnitude -2.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Jan 10 08:42 UTC. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 1.0; direct motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: In solar glare; magnitude 14.6; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.
Binoculars: Trace Horologium’s charted figure in the finder, then identify α Hor at its charted position.
Small telescope: Sh 2-206: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; PN G144.5+06.5: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Crystal Ball Nebula: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Cleopatra's Eye: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; 40 Eridani B: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; Hyades: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance
Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.
Other objects listed this week: None
Mercury
Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:01; sets 15:34 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.6. The disk is 96.6% illuminated (gibbous). It is 9.9° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.549° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 8.3° away. Mercury: 8.3° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Venus
Venus: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:37; sets 16:20 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -3.9. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 0.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.258° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 3.2° away. Mars is 1.5° away at the snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 06 16:36 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Venus: 3.2° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Moon
Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 30.1° above the horizon. Rises 17:57; sets 09:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -12.3. The disk is 96.5% illuminated (waning gibbous). It is 158.3° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 14.345° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Acubens, 11.1° away. Moon: 11.1° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.
Mars
Mars: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 07:44; sets 16:26 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.1. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 1.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.769° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Nunki, 3.9° away. Venus is 1.5° away at the snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 09 11:41 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Mars: 3.9° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Jupiter
Jupiter: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 42.3° above the horizon. Rises 16:47; sets 08:06 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -2.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 173.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.134° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Pollux, 7.0° away. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Jan 10 08:42 UTC. Jupiter: 7.0° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 15.8° above the horizon. Rises 10:58; sets 22:36 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.0. The disk is 99.8% illuminated (nearly full). It is 71.8° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.064° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 13.5° away. Neptune is 3.3° away at the snapshot. Saturn: 13.5° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Uranus
Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 64.0° above the horizon. Rises 13:13; sets 04:05 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.7. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 133.2° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is retrograde at 0.025° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 13.4° away. Uranus: 13.4° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 19.1° above the horizon. Rises 11:00; sets 22:54 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 74.9° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.015° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 14.8° away. Saturn is 3.3° away at the snapshot. Neptune: 14.8° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Ceres
Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 23.0° above the horizon. Rises 11:56; sets 23:23 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 8.9. The disk is 97.0% illuminated (gibbous). It is 83.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.227° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 13.1° away. Ceres: 13.1° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.
Pluto
Pluto: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 08:59; sets 17:43 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.6. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 18.6° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.031° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.5° away. Pluto: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.
Highlights
Mercury
In solar glare; magnitude -0.6; direct motion; 96.6% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Mercury: 8.3° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Venus
In solar glare; magnitude -3.9; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 06 16:36 UTC. Conjunction with Mars in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Venus: 3.2° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Moon
Naked eye; magnitude -12.3; direct motion; 96.5% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Moon: 11.1° from Acubens in the Pathfinder.
Mars
In solar glare; magnitude 1.1; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Solar conjunction in ecliptic longitude Jan 09 11:41 UTC. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jan 08 02:43 UTC. Mars: 3.9° from Nunki in the Pathfinder.
Jupiter
Naked eye; magnitude -2.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Opposition in ecliptic longitude Jan 10 08:42 UTC. Jupiter: 7.0° from Pollux in the Pathfinder.
Saturn
Naked eye; magnitude 1.0; direct motion; 99.8% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: 13.5° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Uranus
Binoculars; magnitude 5.7; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Uranus: 13.4° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.
Neptune
Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: 14.8° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.
Ceres
Telescope; magnitude 8.9; direct motion; 97.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: 13.1° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.
Pluto
In solar glare; magnitude 14.6; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Pluto: 8.5° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.