Sun, Moon, and Stars: January 2002

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

Movement of the heavenly bodies: January 2002

 

January Calendar

Moon Phase Day Phenomenon Hour
(UT)
Hour
(EST)
1 Jupiter is at opposition, that is, Jupiter and the Sun are aligned on opposite sides of the Earth. 0600 1 am
2 The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. 0700 2 am
2 Earth is at its perihelion, or closest point to the Sun in its yearly orbit. 1400 9 am
6 LAST QUARTER 0400 11 pm
(Jan. 5)
8 Pallas, the second-largest asteroid, is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Pallas and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. 2200 5 pm
9 Mercury is 1 degree 3 minutes south of Neptune. 0500 12 am
(midnight)
11 Mercury is at its greatest elongation, or angular distance from the Sun, at 19 degrees east of the Sun 2300 6 pm
13 NEW MOON 1300 8 am
14 Venus is in superior conjunction, that is, Venus and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. 1200 7 am
15 Mercury is 4 degrees north of the Moon. 0200 9 pm
(Jan. 14)
15 Uranus is 4 degrees north of the Moon. 2200 5 pm
16 Vesta, the third-largest asteroid, appears to be motionless in the sky as its apparent backward, or retrograde, motion changes back to direct motion. 1700 12 pm
(noon)
18 Mercury appears to be motionless in the sky as its direct motion changes to apparent backward, or retrograde, motion. 0900 4 am
18 The Moon is at its apogee, or farthest point from Earth in its monthly orbit. 0900 4 am
18 Mars is 5 degrees north of the Moon. 2200 5 pm
21 FIRST QUARTER 1800 1 pm
24 Saturn is 0 degrees 8 minutes south of the Moon. Saturn is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. 1600 11 am
26 Jupiter is 0 degrees 9 minutes south of the Moon. Jupiter is occulted, or hidden from view, by the Moon. 1900 2 pm
27 Mercury is in inferior conjunction, that is, the Sun and the Earth are aligned on opposite sides of Mercury. 1900 2 pm
28 Neptune is in conjunction with the Sun, that is, Neptune and Earth are aligned on opposite sides of the Sun. 1400 9 am
28 FULL MOON 2300 6 pm
30 The Moon is at its perigee, or closest point to Earth in its monthly orbit. 0900 4 am
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