Sky Chart For The Month of January, 2013 [INDIA SPECIFIC]

ASTRONOMICAL BULLETIN FOR JANUARY 2013

The Moon

Last Quarter occurs on 5th at h. 09-28 I.S.T	New Moon occurs on 12th at h. 01-14 I.S.T.
First Quarter occurs on 19th at h. 05-15 I.S.T	Full Moon occurs on 27th at h. 10 –08 I.S.T
The Lunar Crescent becomes first visible after the New Moon day in the evening of 13th.
The Moon is at Perigee or nearest to the Earth on 10th and at Apogee or farthest from the Earth on 22nd.

The Moon passes about 4º south of Saturn on 7th, about 3º north of Venus on 10th, about 6º north of Mercury on 11^th, about 6½ º north of Mars in the evening of 13^th, 6º north of Neptune on 14th, about 5º north of Uranus on 17^thand ½º south of Jupiter on 22^nd.

The Earth

The Earth approaches the Perihelion position in its orbit or reaches nearest to the Sun on 2^nd.

The Planets

The Visibility of Planets :

Mercury: The planet is too close to the Sun to be visible throughout the month, being in Superior Conjunction with the Sun on 18^th of the month.

Venus: The planet is a brilliant object, visible in the eastern sky before sunrise and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight. It rises about 1½ hours to 1 hour before sunrise throughout the month.

Mars: The planet is visible in the west in the evening sky and sets after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 2 hours to 1 hour after sunset throughout the month. It approaches Perihelion position or reaches nearest to the Earth on 24^th of the month.

Jupiter: The planet sets after local midnight throughout the month. It sets about 4 hours to 3½ hours after local mid night upto first quarter of the month, about 3½ hours to 3 hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it for the remaining days of the month. The motion of the planet becomes Direct with respect to the Earth on 30^th.

Saturn: The planet rises after local midnight and remains visible till the beginning of morning twilight throughout the month. It rises about 2 hours to 1 hour after local midnight upto second quarter of the month, about 1 hour to ½ hour after it upto third quarter of the month and about ½ hour after local midnight to close to local midnight time for the remaining days of the month. The planet is in Quadrature with the Sun on 31^st.

Uranus:The planet is visible towards the western sky in the evening and sets before local midnight throughout the month. It sets about ½ hour to 1 hour before it upto first quarter of the month, about 1 hour to 2 hours before it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 2½ hours before it for the remaining days of the month.

Neptune: The planet is visible in the evening sky and sets after sunset throughout the month. It sets about 3½ hours to 3 hours after sunset upto first quarter of the month, about 3 hours to 2½ hours after it upto second quarter of the month, about 2½ hours to 2 hours after it upto third quarter of the month and about 2 hours to 1½ hours after it for the remaining days of the month.

Planets	Planets in Zodiacal Constellation	Magnitude
Mercury (Budha)	Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricorn (Makara) on 15th.	-0.6 to –1.4-1.4 to –1.2
Venus (Sukra)	Moves from Scorpion (Vrischika) to Sagittarius (Dhanus) on 4th Moves from Sagittarius (Dhanus) to Capricorn (Makara) on 28th.	-3.9
Mars (Mangala)	Moves from Capricorn (Makara) to Aquarius (Kumbha). on 25th.	+1.2
Jupiter (Brihaspati)	Remains in Taurus (Vrisha)	-2.7 to –2.5
Saturn (Sani)	Remains in Libra (Tula)	+0.6
Uranus	Remains in Pisces (Mina)	+6.0
Neptune	Remains in Aquarius (Kumbha).	+8.0

Positional Astronomy Centre

India Meteorological Department

Salt Lake, Kolkata - 700 091.