Five Planets and a Comet Visible in Colorado Skies During January

A really awesome thing about living in Northern Colorado is having the ability to go outside and look up on a clear night, and be able to see the countless amounts of stars that light up the sky.

If you have ever experienced the city life, you will agree that nothing beats being able to actually see the stars at night time. The night skies around Fort Collins are not only beautiful, but are also perfect for viewing all of the solar system action.

The month of January is a very busy time for the stars and planets, and if you have looked up at the sky already, you may have noticed a few dots that were shining a little bit brighter than the rest, or maybe had a reddish tent to them. These diverse dots are not just plain old stars, but are actually planets that have rotated into a visible position.

Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn can all be seen by star gazers during the month of January. Venus and Mercury are best seen right after sunset, while Mars and Jupiter come out more in the mid-evening. Saturn will be most visible right around dawn. The brightest object that you can see in the sky is Jupiter, and if you hone in closer with a pair of binoculars, even the rings around it can be seen. Mars is the planet with the red tint that is visible with the naked eye. At the end of the month, Venus and Mars will be very close together, but Mercury will no longer be in sight.

Harder to find in the sky, but easier with the help of being at a very dark location and binoculars, is Comet Lovejoy. It appears as a gray, almost fuzzy looking spot. Make sure you catch a glimpse of this comet now, because astronomers estimate that it won't be visible again for another 8,000 years!

The pull-offs that are up along Horsetooth Reservoir in Fort Collins are perfects areas for stargazing. It's very dark and you can get a full, unobstructed view of the magical sky all at once. The Little Thompson Observatory also offers viewing nights to the public, with guided tours available. However you choose to explore the night skies this month, it's sure to be a wondrous sight!