Cosmic Couples Ready for New Year's Bash

As Jupiter -- bright and prominent in recent months -- falls into the sunset, Venus leads a planetary parade that ushers in a new year.

Find Venus high above the southwestern horizon at nightfall now, the brightest beacon in the heavens. Its brilliance (at negative fourth magnitude, ultra bright) is easily seen from urban locations. This effervescent planet remains a conspicuous evening object throughout January.

Early in the month, while you're looking at Venus, gaze toward the southwestern horizon, where you can watch the waning days of Jupiter as it moves closer to the sun each evening. Concurrently, Mercury appears to climb higher each night for a short visit. Get away from trees and buildings and find a clear view of the horizon to see the fleet Mercury for about 10 days starting at the end of December.

On New Year's Eve, Venus and the young crescent moon together make merriment and ring in 2009 high in the southwest, while Mercury and Jupiter tango close to the horizon. By the next evening, Jan. 1, the cosmic couples have ceased to frolic, and all go their separate ways.

In the brand-new year, Saturn spends late-night hours carousing the cosmos. Look to the east about 11 p.m. to see the ringed planet ascend the heavens between the Leo and Virgo constellations. If you rise early, find this large, gaseous planet high in the southern sky before dawn. At the end of next month, catch Saturn -- a zero magnitude object, visible from light-polluted, urban locations -- in mid-evening, in the east.

With any luck, you might catch a few stray Quadrantid meteors before dawn Jan. 3. The shower this year peaks during the sunny part of the morning for the Washington area. But there might be random Quadrantids on any night (or early morning) during the first five days of next month. Simply look up -- and keep looking -- when the sky is clear. The International Meteor Organization (http://www.imo.net) provides an annual calendar of showers.

Engaging Young Sky Gazers

It has been 400 years since Galileo first set a telescope toward the night sky. In the intervening years, humanity has visited nearby worlds and uncovered many cosmic secrets. To celebrate our universe, the International Year of Astronomy 2009 group aims to stimulate young sky gazers into learning more about astronomy and science under the theme "The Universe: Yours to Discover."

Over the next year, there will be many events around the world. The opening program will be Jan. 15-16 at UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in Paris. Information: http://www.astronomy2009.org.

Down-to-Earth Events

Jan. 5 -- "The Stars Tonight" shows you the January heavens at Arlington County's David M. Brown Planetarium, 1426 N. Quincy St., adjacent to Washington-Lee High School. 7:30 p.m. Adults $3; seniors and children $2. Information: 703-228-6070.

Jan. 5 -- Astronomer Patrick Harrington answers the question "Is There a Planetary Nebula in the Sun's Future?" at the open house, University of Maryland observatory, College Park. See the night sky afterward, weather permitting. 8 p.m. Information: 301-405-6555; http://www.astro.umd.edu/openhouse.