If you stepped outside just after sunset tonight, January 14, 2026, and looked up at that thin, ghostly sliver of a Moon, you probably noticed you aren't alone out there. The sky feels crowded. But in a good way. Honestly, tonight is one of those rare windows where the celestial mechanics just line up perfectly for casual observers and hardcore gear-heads alike.
You’ve got the Moon hanging out in its waning crescent phase—only about 12% to 16% illuminated depending on your exact time zone. It’s a delicate, fingernail-clipping of a thing. But the real story isn't just the lunar glow; it’s the high-profile neighbors currently loitering in the neighborhood.
What Planets Are Near the Moon Tonight?
Right now, the big headline is Jupiter.
If you see a "star" that looks way too bright to be a star—steady, unblinking, and dominant—that is the King of Planets. Jupiter just reached opposition on January 10, which is basically the astronomical equivalent of being "front and center." Because it’s so close to that opposition point, it is currently at its brightest and largest for the entire year of 2026.
While the Moon is currently positioned in the constellation Scorpius (visible in the pre-dawn hours for most), Jupiter is dominating the evening sky in Gemini. It’s not "next door" to the Moon in terms of degrees in the sky tonight, but they are the two main characters of the 2026 winter firmament.
The Saturn Situation
While Jupiter is the loud neighbor throwing a party, Saturn is the one quietly sipping tea in the southwest. If you look toward the southwest horizon about 60 to 90 minutes after the sun goes down, you’ll find Saturn glowing with a steady, yellowish tint.
💡 You might also like: January 14, 2026: Why This Wednesday Actually Matters More Than You Think
It’s currently at magnitude 1.0. That’s bright, but it’s nowhere near the "strobe light" intensity of Jupiter. What makes tonight particularly cool for Saturn fans is a rare alignment of its moons. If you have a decent backyard telescope, you can actually spot Iapetus sitting just north of the ringed planet.
Iapetus is reaching what astronomers call "inferior conjunction" today. It’s usually a bit of a hide-and-seek player because one side of the moon is much darker than the other, but tonight it’s right where it needs to be for a solid sighting.
Why the Moon Looks Different Tonight
You might notice the dark part of the Moon isn't actually pitch black. It has this soft, eerie glow. Astronomers call this Earthshine, but it’s more poetically known as "the old Moon in the new Moon's arms."
Basically, sunlight is hitting Earth, bouncing off our clouds and oceans, and reflecting back onto the dark side of the Moon. It’s literally Earth light illuminating the lunar night. It’s one of the best nights for photography because you can capture the bright crescent and the faint detail of the "dark" craters in the same frame if you use a tripod and a slightly longer exposure.
Where is everyone else?
It’s a bit of a ghost town for the inner planets right now.
📖 Related: Black Red Wing Shoes: Why the Heritage Flex Still Wins in 2026
- Mars: Completely lost in the sun's glare. It just had its solar conjunction on January 9. Don't bother looking; the sun is effectively "eating" it from our perspective.
- Venus: Also a no-show. It’s tucked behind the sun after its own conjunction earlier this month.
- Mercury: Hidden. It’s moving toward its own meeting with the sun on January 21.
So, the "planets near the moon" conversation tonight is really a tale of two giants: Jupiter in the east/high south and Saturn sinking in the southwest.
The Secret Guest: Antares
If you are a morning person (or a very committed night owl), the Moon has a specific date before sunrise.
Early in the morning of January 14, the waning crescent Moon is snuggling up to Antares. Antares is the "Heart of the Scorpion," a massive red supergiant star that looks distinctly orange or reddish to the naked eye. In Australia and parts of Africa, people are actually witnessing a "lunar occultation"—which is just a fancy way of saying the Moon is literally walking right in front of the star and blocking it out.
For the rest of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it just looks like a very close approach. The contrast between the cool, white-blue glow of the crescent Moon and the fiery orange of Antares is stunning.
How to See Them Without Fancy Gear
You don't need a $2,000 telescope to enjoy this. Honestly, your eyes are enough, but a cheap pair of 10x50 binoculars changes the game.
👉 See also: Finding the Right Word That Starts With AJ for Games and Everyday Writing
- For Jupiter: Look high in the south/southeast around 8:00 PM. Through binoculars, you won't see the Great Red Spot, but you will see the four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) appearing as tiny pinpricks of light in a straight line flanking the planet.
- For Saturn: Look lower in the southwest. You’ll need a telescope to see the rings clearly (they currently look quite thin from our perspective), but binoculars will at least confirm its steady, golden hue compared to the twinkling stars nearby.
- For the Moon: Look for the "Earthshine" glow. If you have a steady hand, you can see the outlines of the lunar "seas" (the dark basaltic plains) even on the unlit portion.
Why Tonight Matters for Stargazers
We are currently in a "sweet spot" for 2026. Jupiter is at its peak brilliance. It’s actually 3.5 times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. If you’re going to look at planets, this is the week to do it.
The Moon is also exiting the stage, heading toward a New Moon on January 18. This means the sky is getting darker every night, which is a gift if you’re trying to see faint objects like the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades (the Seven Sisters), which are both perfectly placed tonight.
Real-world Tips for Your View
- Check the Horizon: Since Saturn is relatively low, make sure you aren't blocked by your neighbor's house or a dense treeline. You need a clear view of the southwest.
- Let Your Eyes Adjust: It takes about 20 minutes for your "night vision" to fully kick in. Avoid looking at your phone during this time—the blue light will reset your progress instantly.
- The "Wobble" Factor: If you're using binoculars, lean against a car or a fence to steady yourself. It makes a massive difference in seeing Jupiter’s moons.
The sky tonight isn't just a static map; it’s a moving clock. Watching the Moon drift past Antares in the morning while Jupiter stands guard over the night is a reminder of just how fast we're actually moving through space.
Your Next Steps:
- Go out at 7:00 PM: Find Saturn in the southwest before it sets.
- Wait until 10:00 PM: Look straight up to see Jupiter at its highest, most brilliant point in Gemini.
- Set a pre-dawn alarm: If you’re awake at 5:30 AM, look southeast to catch the Moon-Antares pairing before the sun washes them out.