Northern Sky: January 7 - 20

Deane Morrison is a science writer at the University of Minnesota, where she authors the Minnesota Starwatch column.

Constellations will take center stage with bright winter stars; look for the winter hexagon and winter triangle. Venus will be bright in the southwest with Mars close by, Saturn will be seen in the southeast just before dawn, and Mercury will make a brief visit to the morning sky around January 19.

(Photo by Kabsik Park on Flickr)