Calendar of Events
The Kootenai Stargazers Astronomy Club meets the third Friday of each month.
Upcoming Meetings and presentations
- The monthly Astronomy Club meetings have been suspended until the Covid-19 situation settles down a little more.
- Stay tuned for additional updates. Thank you for your patience.
What's Up in the Night Sky
- Note: Observations are good for the lower 48 states, but more accurate for the Northwest Area.
- Jan 2 – Earth is at the closest point in the orbit around the sun, called Perihelion.
- Jan 2 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower. Above average meteor shower with up to 40 meteors per hour at the peak. It is thought to be produced by dust grains left behind by an extinct comet known as 2003 EH1. The shower normally runs annually from January 1-5 with its peak this year on the night of the 2nd and morning of the 3rd. Unfortunately, the waning gibbous moon will block out most of the fainter meteors.
- Jan 24 – Mercury is at its Greatest Elongation. The planet Mercury reaches the greatest elongation of 18.6 degrees from the Sun. This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.
- Moon: Third Quarter – Jan 6. New Moon – Jan 13. First Quarter – Jan 20. Full Moon – Jan 28
April 8, 2024 Next Total Solar Eclipse in the United States
- Future Total Eclipses in the United States
- See our Links page for additional information
