Exploring the Night Sky this Week: Witnessing the Moon's Eclipse, Seven Stars, and Glowing Venus
Each Monday, I shine a light on North America's celestial highlights for the week ahead (applicable to mid-northern latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere). Swing by my main feed for in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and more.
The Night Sky This Week: Jan. 6-12, 2025
Despite its position as an inner planet, Venus never appears "full" due to our perspective. However, when it's close to Earth, like now, it transforms into a larger, brighter, yet diminished crescent. If you've got a small telescope, observe Venus - shining after dark in the southwest - as it shrinks and brightens over the next month or so.
Join me as I guide you through this week's top-notch stargazing and astronomy events:

Monday, Jan. 6: First Quarter Moon
Welcome the first quarter moon, the phase where it appears half-lit from Earth's perspective. This phase marks the beginning of increasingly brightly lit night skies, which can make stargazing a bit challenging. Nevertheless, keep gazing – just condense your objectives to brighter celestial bodies and refrain from planning stargazing trips to dark skies during this period or until the full moon passes.
Thursday, Jan. 9: Moon Occults Pleiades

Prepare yourself for one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the night sky – the Pleiades, an open star cluster frequently called the "Seven Sisters." Found high above the east, its core stars will be accompanied by an 81%-lit waxing gibbous moon. Watch as the moon transits the Pleiades' stars over the next three to four hours, appearing incredibly bright. Point your binoculars their way for a closer look.
In a near-six-year pattern, the moon undergoes several occultations of the Pleiades.
Thursday, Jan. 9: Venus Farthest From The Sun

Venus reaches its maximum angular distance from the sun on this date, which means it'll stay visible in the sky for an extended period during its current apparition. Look west after sunset.
Friday, Jan. 10: Moon and Jupiter Conjunction
Barely a day after its Pleiades rendezvous, the nearly full waxing gibbous moon will align with bright planet Jupiter. Position yourself roughly between the moon and Jupiter, and you'll reach the red supergiant star Aldebaran – the bull's eye in the constellation Taurus – along with the Pleiades nearby.

Saturday, Jan. 11: Venus at Dichotomy
Today, Venus enters its half-lit dichotomy phase, making it the perfect moment to use a small telescope for up-close observation. Catch it in the southwestern sky after sunset.
Spotlight on the Week: The Pleiades

Famed as the closest open cluster of stars to our solar system, the Pleiades will be a spellbinding sight with both the naked eye and binoculars. Gaze directly at it, and observe the formation of six stars that resemble a “mini Big Dipper.” Slightly shift your focus, and you'll encounter a glowing, misty patch – a collective brightness of approximately 800 young blue stars that are about 444 light-years distant.
For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
May your gaze be clear, and your enthusiasm enduring
This week's astronomical events include a fascinating occurrence on Thursday, as the waxing gibbous moon will undergo an occultation of the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters. Apart from this, Venus, which is currently close to Earth, will reach its maximum angular distance from the sun, resulting in its prolonged visibility in the sky. Additionally, on Friday, a conjunction will occur between the nearly full moon and Jupiter, aligning with Aldebaran, the red supergiant star in the constellation Taurus.