The Moon reaches first-quarter at 10:47 p.m. CST. It lines up at a right angle to the line from Earth to the Sun, so sunlight illuminates half of the lunar hemisphere that faces our way.
Weekly Stargazing Tips
Provided by StarDate.org. Unless otherwise specified, viewing times are local time regardless of time zone, and are good for the entire Lower 48 states (and, generally, for Alaska and Hawaii).
January 25: First-Quarter Moon
January 26: Perseus
As befits his status as a hero, Perseus strides boldly across the sky tonight. He is high overhead at nightfall, crowning the sky with a couple of streamers of moderately bright stars.
January 27: Big Dipper Clock
The Big Dipper wheels around the North Star like the hour-hand of a giant clock, ticking off the hours of the night. Winter is an especially good time to watch it, because it's in good view pretty much all night.
January 28: Moon and Taurus
The gibbous Moon is passing through the constellation Taurus tonight. Aldebaran, the bull's eye, is well to the right of the Moon at nightfall. Elnath, at the tip of one of the bull's horns, is closer to the lower left of the Moon.
January 29: Hot Giant
The Northern Cross is low in the northwest at nightfall. A star system near its center is home to the hottest planet yet discovered. Dayside temperatures on KELT-9b soar to 8,000 degrees Fahrenheit, which is hotter than most stars.
January 30: Moon and Companions
The twins of Gemini appear near the Moon tonight. Castor, the fainter twin, is to the left of the Moon at nightfall, with brighter Pollux to the lower left. The planet Jupiter is passing through Gemini, and looks like an especially brilliant star.
January 31: Moon and Gemini
At nightfall, the twin stars of Gemini, Pollux and Castor, line up to the upper left of the Moon. The brilliant planet Jupiter is farther to the upper right of the Moon. Procyon, the Little Dog Star, is farther to the Moon's right.