January 3: Venus near the Moon
Conjunction time: 15:24 GMT (10:24 a.m. EST)
Conjunction distance: 1°30'
Close approach time: 16:21 GMT (11:21 a.m. EST)
Close approach distance: 1°18'
On January 3, the 15.5%-illuminated Moon and Venus (mag -4.5) will meet in the constellation Aquarius. The planet will be visible after sunset without any optical aid. As the event will occur four days after the New Moon, the lunar crescent will be thin.
January 4: Saturn near the Moon; lunar occultation of Saturn
Occultation start: 14:57 GMT (9:57 a.m. EST)
Occultation end: 18:44 GMT (1:44 p.m. EST)
Conjunction time: 17:18 GMT (12:18 p.m. EST)
Conjunction distance: 0°42'
Close approach time: 16:56 GMT (11:56 a.m. EST)
Close approach distance: 0°36'
On January 4, the 24.7%-illuminated Moon and Saturn (mag 1.1) will meet in the constellation Aquarius. The planet will rise during the daytime and climb high by the sunset. Also, a lunar occultation of Saturn will be visible over Europe, Africa, western Russia, and eastern Greenland.