USPS Star Calendar for 22-28 January

22 Jan    Have you been watching Venus and Jupiter? They began the month 7½ fist-widths apart and are now only 5 fist-widths apart. Jupiter remains relatively stationary in relation to the background stars as Venus quickly climbs to meet the giant planet.

25 Jan    Low in the west at dusk, magnitude -4.1 Venus is 4 finger-widths to the thin waxing crescent moon’s upper left. Less than 5 percent of the moon is illuminated.

26 Jan    Venus is less than 4 finger-widths to the moon’s lower left, low in the west in the early evening. About 10 percent of the moon’s surface is illuminated.

28 Jan    The moon is between Jupiter, less than 2 fist-widths to the upper left, and Venus, 2½ fist-widths below, close to the horizon. The two planets are less than 4½ fist-widths apart.