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Sky Digest

Friday, 16 January 2026 | Default Location
Showing the sky from Greenwich, London. Log in to use your own location.
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Tonight at a Glance

Waning Crescent 4%
Dark window: 17:34 – 06:25 (12 h 51 m)

Planet Highlights

Jupiter mag -2.7 · 48° alt · Gemini Details
GRS transit tonight:
Io Occultation ends
Europa Shadow transit begins
Europa Transit begins
Europa Shadow transit ends
+3 more — Details

Comets

PANSTARRS mag 7.0 · 15° alt · Pegasus Details
bright 2.26 AU Perihelion: Apr 19 (in 20d)

For Beginners (naked eye)

Hyades
Open Cluster
mag 0.5

At 21:00 look high in the south

Taurus
M42
Great Orion Nebula Nebula
mag 4.0

At 21:00 look halfway up in the south

Orion
M31
Andromeda Galaxy Galaxy
mag 3.4

At 21:00 look high in the west

Andromeda

Binocular Targets

U Ori
Variable Star
mag 5.4

At 21:00 look high in the southeast

Ori
M37
Salt and Pepper Cluster Open Cluster
mag 6.2

At 21:00 look high in the southeast

Auriga
M81
Bode's Galaxy Galaxy
mag 6.9

At 21:00 look high in the northeast

Ursa Major

Small Scopes (3–6 inch)

Castor
HIP 36850; Alpha Gem; 66 Gem Double Star
mag 2.0

At 21:00 look high in the east

Gem
NGC 1513
Open Cluster
mag 8.4

At 21:00 look near the zenith

Per
M43
De Mairan's Nebula Nebula
mag 9.0

At 21:00 look halfway up in the south

Orion
C5
IC 342 Galaxy
mag 9.2

At 21:00 look near the zenith

Camelopardalis
32 Eri
Double Star
mag 4.8

At 21:00 look halfway up in the south

Eri

Big Scopes (8–12 inch)

NGC 1605
Open Cluster
mag 10.7

At 21:00 look near the zenith

Per
NGC 7048
Planetary Nebula
mag 11.0

At 21:00 look low in the northwest

Cyg
NGC 1560
Galaxy
mag 11.5

At 21:00 look high in the north

Cam
NGC 1637
Galaxy
mag 10.9

At 21:00 look halfway up in the south

Eri
NGC 1964
Galaxy
mag 10.8

At 21:00 look low in the south

Lep

The Week Ahead

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🌘 4% 🌑 1% 🌑 0% 🌑 1% 🌒 4% 🌒 9% 🌒 16%

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula

These cosmic clouds have blossomed 1,300 light-years away in the fertile starfields of the constellation Cepheus. Called the Iris Nebula, NGC 7023 is not the only nebula to evoke the imagery of flowers. Still, this deep telescopic image shows off the Iris Nebula's range of colors and symmetries embedded in surrounding fields of interstellar dust. Within the Iris itself, dusty nebular material surrounds a hot, young star. The dominant color of the brighter reflection nebula is blue, characteristic of dust grains reflecting starlight. Central filaments of the reflection nebula glow with a faint reddish photoluminescence as some dust grains effectively convert the star's invisible ultraviolet radiation to visible red light. Infrared observations indicate that this nebula contains complex carbon molecules known as PAHs. The dusty blue petals of the Iris Nebula span about six light-years.

Image credit: Justus Falk — APOD is a service of NASA and Michigan Tech. U.

View on NASA APOD

Space News

NASA Selects Intuitive Machines to Deliver Artemis Science, Tech to Moon

NASA awarded Intuitive Machines $180.4 million to deliver seven science payloads to the lunar surface as part of the Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative supporting Artemis.

NASA — 27 Mar 2026

NASA Names Scientists to Support Lunar South Pole Science

NASA selected 10 scientists to support lunar surface operations for Artemis astronauts at the Moon's south pole, including instrument deployment and sample collection.

NASA — 27 Mar 2026

NASA Releases Artemis II Moon Mission Launch Countdown

NASA released the countdown timeline for Artemis II, targeting no earlier than April 1, 2026, to launch the first crewed mission around the Moon with four astronauts.

NASA — 26 Mar 2026

How Europe will power the journey to the Moon and back

The European Service Module will provide critical propulsion, power, and life support systems for Artemis II astronauts on their journey around the Moon and back to Earth.

ESA — 27 Mar 2026

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