Monday, Jan. 13

Dimmed Betelgeuse: The red super giant Betelgeuse marking Orion’s shoulder has always been slightly variable, but lately it has been in an unusually low dip.

Tuesday, Jan. 14

Sirius twinkles brightly after dinnertime below Orion. Around 8 or 9 p.m., depending on your location, Sirius shines precisely below fiery Betelgeuse in Orion’s shoulder.

Thursday, Jan. 16

Capella, very high after dinnertime, and Rigel, in Orion’s foot, have almost the same right ascension.

Week’s Planet Roundup

Mercury is out of sight in the glare of the Sun.

Venus dominates the southwest during and after twilight. It will shine as the grand “Evening Star” at dusk all winter and into the spring.

Mars glows in the southeast before and during early dawn, not very high.

Jupiter is buried deep in the glow of sunrise.

Saturn is out of sight in conjunction with the Sun.

Uranus and Neptune stand high in the south and much lower in the southwest, respectively, right after dark.