January 12
The Warrior's Shoulder
Sun Position
The Sun lies in Capricornus, about 21.8° south of the celestial equator. In the Northern Hemisphere the days are still short but lengthening; in the Southern Hemisphere this is high summer with long, warm evenings.
Sky Highlight
Orion stands upright due south in the evening, Bellatrix marking the shoulder above the famous belt. Visible from both hemispheres, inverted as seen from the south.
Deep Sky Object
Messier 78, a reflection nebula about 1,350 light-years away in Orion, glowing blue with starlight scattered off dust. Visible from both hemispheres.
Featured Star
Bellatrix (γ Ori), a blue giant in Orion, about 243 light-years away. Bellatrix, the female warrior, Orion's blue left shoulder.
Around This Date
- January 12, 2005NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft launched toward Comet Tempel 1, destined to fire a 370-kilogram copper impactor into the comet's surface to excavate and analyze subsurface material.
- January 13, 1610Galileo observed Jupiter's fourth moon for the first time, completing the set of Galilean satellites, four objects whose motions around another planet decisively undermined the geocentric model.
Dust shines only when a star stands behind it.