Astounding Astronomical Events to Watch in the Southern Hemisphere January 2026
- keith0414479483
- Jan 2
- 6 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
January 2026 promises to be a spectacular month for skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere. From dazzling meteor showers to rare planetary alignments, the night sky will offer a variety of captivating events. Whether you are an experienced astronomer or a casual stargazer, this guide will help you plan your observations and make the most of the celestial show.
Astounding Astronomical Events to Watch in the Southern Hemisphere January 2026
Meteor Showers Lighting Up the Sky
January hosts two notable meteor showers that will be visible in the Southern Hemisphere. These showers provide excellent opportunities to witness shooting stars without needing special equipment.
Quadrantids Meteor Shower (Peak: January 3-4)
Peak Activity: Early January, around the 3rd and 4th
Expected Rate: Up to 120 meteors per hour under ideal conditions
Radiant Point: Near the constellation Boötes, visible low in the northern sky
The Quadrantids are known for their sharp peak, which lasts only a few hours. Observers in the Southern Hemisphere will see fewer meteors than those in the Northern Hemisphere, but the show can still be impressive. The best time to watch is after midnight, when the radiant climbs higher.
Alpha Centaurids Meteor Shower (Peak: January 28-29)
Peak Activity: Late January, around the 28th and 29th
Expected Rate: Around 6-10 meteors per hour
Radiant Point: Near the bright star Alpha Centauri in the constellation Centaurus
This shower is unique to the Southern Hemisphere and offers bright, fast meteors. Although the rate is modest, the meteors tend to be vivid and leave glowing trails. The best viewing window is after midnight, looking towards the southern horizon.
Astounding Astronomical Events to Watch in the Southern Hemisphere January 2026
SATURN AND JUPITER
As the new year dawns, the solar system’s two largest planets put on fine shows in the evening sky.
Saturn continues to dominate the western stage. It glows at magnitude 1.0 against the backdrop along the Aquarius-Pisces border. It officially leaves the Water-bearer in the middle of January and enters the Fish for what will be a short three-month stay.
Saturn’s sluggish eastward slide relative to the background stars is no match for the Sun’s more rapid motion, which means the ringed planet dips closer to the horizon with each passing day. You’ll want to turn your telescope toward Saturn in the early evening while it remains fairly high. The planet shows a disk measuring 17″ across the equator surrounded by a ring system that spans 38″ and tips 1.4° to our line of sight. The narrow tilt reduces glare enough that you should be able to see Saturn’s brightest moons — Titan, Dione, Rhea, and Tethys — easily through a 10-centimeter instrument.
As nice as Saturn looks, Jupiter takes over showpiece status this month. The giant planet reaches opposition Jan. 10 among the stars of Gemini. Opposition means the planet rises at sunset and sets at sunrise, and marks its closest approach to Earth for the year. It also achieves peak brightness at opposition, gleaming at magnitude –2.7. Shining like a beacon, Jupiter often causes people to mistake it for an airplane’s landing light.
As you might guess, Jupiter looms largest through a telescope at opposition. Its equatorial diameter maxes out at 47″, big enough to show lots of atmospheric detail. Look for a bright zone that coincides with the gas giant’s equator flanked by two darker belts. In moments of good seeing, you should see a series of alternating zones and belts. And any scope also reveals Jupiter’s four bright moons. Because the planet currently lies well north of the celestial equator, the best views come within an hour or two of local midnight when it stands highest in the sky.
Sadly, the other three naked-eye planets remain out of sight all month. Venus, typically a brilliant sight in the morning or evening sky, reaches superior conjunction Jan. 6. Mars is in conjunction with the Sun just three days later. And then, as if to mimic Venus, Mercury arrives at superior conjunction Jan. 21.
People sometimes ask me why we use the terms “superior” and “inferior” for some planetary conjunctions with the Sun. It seems scientists first used the term “superior conjunction” in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London in 1716 to describe the appearance a planet would have (if it were visible) when it passes on the far side of the Sun as seen from Earth. Today, astronomers only use the terms for the inner planets, Mercury and Venus.
A waning crescent Moon occults the 1st-magnitude star Antares in the early morning hours of Jan. 15 for observers across much of Australia (except for most of Queensland). From Adelaide, South Australia, Antares disappears behind the Moon’s bright limb at 18h11m UT (on the 14th in Universal Time) and reappears at 19h11m UT, near the start of twilight.
The Moon’s Phases and Eclipses
The Moon’s phases affect the visibility of other celestial objects, so knowing when the Moon is full or new helps plan observations.
New Moon (January 19)
The New Moon phase means the Moon is not visible, creating dark skies ideal for deep-sky observations and meteor watching.
Full Moon (February 02)
The Full Moon will rise in the evening, illuminating the night sky but making it harder to see faint stars and meteors.
PLANISPHERE
The map below portrays the sky as seen near 30° south latitude. Located inside the border are the cardinal directions and their intermediate points. To find stars, hold the map overhead and orient it so one of the labels matches the direction you’re facing. The stars above the map’s horizon now match what’s in the sky.
The Planisphere shows how the sky looks at:
11 p.m. January 110 p.m. January 159 p.m. January 31
Planets are shown at mid month
No Lunar or Solar Eclipses in January 2026
There are no eclipses visible from the Southern Hemisphere this month, so stargazers can focus on other events.
Tips for Observing the Night Sky in January
To get the best experience from these astronomical events, consider the following practical advice:
Find a Dark Location: Light pollution from cities can wash out faint meteors and stars. Head to rural areas or designated dark sky parks.
Check the Weather: Clear skies are essential. Use local weather forecasts to pick nights with minimal cloud cover.
Bring the Right Gear: A reclining chair or blanket helps you look up comfortably. Binoculars or a small telescope enhance planetary views.
Dress Warmly: Even in summer months, nights can get chilly, especially in elevated areas.
Use Apps or Star Charts: Mobile apps like Stellarium or Sky Guide help identify constellations, planets, and meteor shower radiants.
Plan Around Moon Phases: Aim for nights near the New Moon for the darkest skies.
Noteworthy Constellations and Deep Sky Objects
January offers a rich canvas of stars and deep sky objects visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
Orion the Hunter
Orion is prominent in the summer sky, easily identified by the three stars forming Orion’s Belt.
The Orion Nebula (M42) is a bright star-forming region visible to the naked eye as a fuzzy patch.
The Southern Cross (Crux)
The Southern Cross is a key navigational constellation and a symbol of the Southern Hemisphere.
It is visible all night during January, high in the southern sky.
The Large Magellanic Cloud
This satellite galaxy of the Milky Way is visible as a faint cloud near the Southern Cross.
It is one of the closest galaxies to Earth and a fascinating target for binoculars.
A rundown from astrogirl-au.com
January
02 January: Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri (Taurus).
03 January: 🌠 Quadrantids Meteor Shower peaks. A short but intense shower. Watch for bright meteors in the early morning sky.
03 January: 🌕 Full Moon (Wolf Moon).
04 January: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter (Gemini).
04 January: ☄️ Comet 24P/Schaumasse passes perigee (Virgo).
06 January: ☄️ Comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches peak brightness (Virgo).
07 January: Lunar occultation of Regulus (Leo).
08 January: ☄️ Comet Wierzchos (C/2023 A3) expected around mag 5.
10 January: Last Quarter Moon.
15 January: Lunar occultation of Antares (Scorpius).
19 January: 🌑 New Moon.
20 January: ☄️ Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) passes perihelion (Microscopium).
20 January: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars (Aries).
23 January: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn.
26 January: First Quarter Moon.
26 January: ☄️ Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchos) reaches peak brightness (Grus).
29 January: Lunar occultation of Beta Tauri (Taurus).
31 January: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter (Gemini).
References:
Perth Observatory
BBC Sky at Night
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