Winter Sky

Winter is often considered the best time for stargazing. You can see more stars when it’s cold because cold air tends to be clearer with less atmospheric moisture, resulting in a better view of the night sky with fewer clouds, making stars, planets and moon appear brighter and more visible.

The moon, our nearest celestial neighbor, is a waxing and waning presence in the night sky. The moon provides light for night walks in the woods and the moon’s absence reveals an abundance of stars.

During the month of January of 2025, we are experiencing an astronomical phenomena known as a planet parade. A planet parade is a celestial event where at least four planets are visible in the sky: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn.

The winter sky includes meteor showers. The Ursids meteor shower peaks around the winter solstice. The Quadrantids meteor shower occurs in early January.