281.

The Moon at apogee The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Earth, making it appear fractionally smaller than at other times of the month. Fri, 14 Jan 2022 at 04:25 EDT (854 days ago) in Taurus

282.

Mercury at perihelion Mercury passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Sat, 15 Jan 2022 at 18:03 EDT (853 days ago) in Capricornus

283.

The cluster Messier 47 is well placed The open star cluster M47 (NGC 2422; mag 4.4) in Puppis culminates at around midnight local time. Sat, 15 Jan 2022 (853 days ago) in Puppis

284.

NGC 2403 is well placed NGC 2403 (mag 8.9), a spiral galaxy in Camelopardalis culminates at around midnight local time. Sat, 15 Jan 2022 (853 days ago) in Camelopardalis

285.

134340 Pluto at solar conjunction 134340 Pluto is unobservable as it passes around the far side of the Sun – marking the end of one apparition and the beginning of the next. Sun, 16 Jan 2022 at 17:22 EDT (852 days ago) in Sagittarius

286.

Full Moon The Moon reaches full phase and is visible for much of the night. Mon, 17 Jan 2022 at 18:48 EDT (851 days ago) in Cancer

287.

The cluster NGC 2451 is well placed The open star cluster NGC 2451 (mag 2.8) in Puppis culminates at around midnight local time. Mon, 17 Jan 2022 (851 days ago) in Puppis

288.

Comet 104P/Kowal reaches peak brightness Comet 104P/Kowal is forecast to reach the brightest point in its 2022 apparition. Tue, 18 Jan 2022 (850 days ago) in Cetus

289.

The Moon at aphelion The Moon recedes to its orbit's furthest point from the Sun, which happens each month around the time of full moon. Tue, 18 Jan 2022 at 08:03 EDT (850 days ago) in Cancer

290.

Uranus ends retrograde motion Uranus returns to its usual eastward motion after opposition. Tue, 18 Jan 2022 at 10:57 EDT (850 days ago) in Aries

291.

γ-Ursae Minorid meteor shower 2022 The γ-Ursae Minorid meteor shower reaches its peak. Wed, 19 Jan 2022 (849 days ago) in Ursa Minor

292.

The cluster NGC 2516 is well placed The open star cluster NGC 2516 (mag 3.8) in Volans culminates at around midnight local time. Thu, 20 Jan 2022 (848 days ago) in Carina

293.

Venus at perihelion Venus passes its orbit's closest point to the Sun. Sat, 22 Jan 2022 at 19:33 EDT (846 days ago) in Sagittarius

294.

Mercury at inferior solar conjunction Mercury passes around the near side of the Sun. Sun, 23 Jan 2022 at 05:24 EDT (845 days ago) in Capricornus

295.

The cluster NGC 2547 is well placed The open star cluster NGC 2547 (mag 4.7) in Vela culminates at around midnight local time. Sun, 23 Jan 2022 (845 days ago) in Vela

296.

Moon at Last Quarter The Moon reaches last quarter phase – rising in the east at around midnight and appearing high in the sky by sunrise. Tue, 25 Jan 2022 at 08:41 EDT (843 days ago) in Virgo

297.

Close approach of Mars and M8 Mars and M8 pass close to each other. Tue, 25 Jan 2022 at 22:00 EDT (843 days ago) in Sagittarius

298.

Close approach of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars pass close to each other. Sat, 29 Jan 2022 at 09:52 EDT (839 days ago) in Sagittarius

299.

Conjunction of the Moon and Mars The Moon and Mars share the same right ascension, at a separation of 2°24'. Sat, 29 Jan 2022 at 10:04 EDT (839 days ago) in Sagittarius

300.

Lunar occultation of Sigma Sagittarii The Moon will pass in front of Sigma Sagittarii (Nunki), creating a lunar occultation visible from countries and territories including Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon and Gabon amongst others. Sun, 30 Jan 2022 at 00:43 EDT (838 days ago) in Sagittarius