January nights will showcase the planet Jupiter in the constellation Leo. The Quadrantid meteor shower will be active in the first week of January some 10 degrees northwest of Leo's brightest star, Regulus.

The gas giant Jupiter will rise at around 8:00 p.m. and will linger for about 20 minutes after sunset by the end of January. Jupiter is approaching opposition on Feb. 6.

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It will be a magnificent phenomenon throughout January in telescopes and binoculars. Jupiter will appear highest in the south after midnight.

Aside from Jupiter showcasing its beauty, there will also be the Quadrantid meteor shower that will peak during the hours before dawn on January 3.

It will appear in the radiant near the end of the handle of the Big Dipper, which will rise in the northeast. The radiant is in the constellation Bootes the Herdsman. The brilliant orange star Arcturus is an obvious marker.

Venus and Mercury will hover close to each other in evening twilight through the first half of January. On January 10, Venus will be brighter Mercury for 45 minutes after sunset.

Mars will appear about an hour after sunset 20 degrees to the upper left (south) of Venus and Mercury. It will appear as an orange dot dimmer than Venus and Mercury.

TagsTwin Lunar Eclipse, Big Dipper Meteor Shower, meteor shower, Quadrantid meteor shower, venus, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Big Dipper