Quadrantid meteor shower January 2017: When are the Quadrantids and other celestial spectacles in January
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There are few ways better to start the year's star gazing than with a beautiful shower of meteors to light up the sky.
That's exactly what we're due to enjoy from January 4, when the Quadrantid meteor shower begins.
The downside to this particular shower is that UK residents won't likely see much of it, as it peaks at 13:30 in the afternoon, meaning our North American friends will get the best show.
Read on for a bit more on the Quadrantid meteor shower as well as more to expect later this month.
4 January – Quadrantid meteor shower
The Quadrantid, ideally viewed by those near the Mississippi River, will be visible as 60 to 120 meteors per hour.
For six hours before and after the maximum, these meteors will appear blue as their magnesium burns up on entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
The Quadrantid meteor shower appears to radiate from the former Quadrans Muralis constellation.
The meteors themselves are residue from the asteroid 2003 EH1, thought to have been broken up way back in the 1490s.
12 January – View Venus
Venus will reach its greatest eastern elongation on 12 January, meaning it'll be 47.1 degrees from the Sun, making it the best time to view the planet from Earth.
Venus will be at its highest points above the horizon in the evening sky (UTC time). To spot it look for the bright planet in the western sky just after sunset.
17 January – Vesta asteroid
Vesta is the brightest of all the asteroids visible this month, says NASA, so well worth looking out for.
Vesta will be at its peak brightness on 17 January and can be spotted by using Gemini's twin stars Castor and Pollux to locate the asteroid.
19 January – View Mercury
On 19 January Mercury will reach its greatest western elongation. That will put the planet at 24.1 degrees from the Sun.
This means that Mercury will be at its highest point on the horizon in the morning sky and should be easily visible.
Check out Mercury low in the eastern sky just before sunrise (UTC time).