Best Astrophotography Dates in January 2026: Night Sky Calendar
- Ryan Oswald
- Dec 31, 2025
- 3 min read
What to shoot in the night sky in January 2026
January is deep sky season. Use the dark run around New Moon (Jan 18) for Andromeda (M31), Triangulum (M33), Pleiades (M45), California Nebula (NGC 1499) and the Orion Complex (M42 + Horsehead/Flame). The Quadrantids peak Jan 3-4 but are heavily moon blasted by the Full (super)moon Jan 3-4. Jupiter hits opposition Jan 10, bright all night.
Top Astrophotography Nights — January 2026
Deep sky prime: Jan 15-23 (centered on New Moon Jan 18)
Good: Jan 13-14 (waning crescent), Jan 24-26 (thin waxing)
Skip vs. quality: Jan 1-12 (gibbous → full) and Jan 27-31 (bright evening moon)
Meteor Showers
Quadrantids
Peak Night: Jan 3-4 (late night → pre-dawn)
Active Window: Dec 28 - Jan 12
Best Time to Shoot: after midnight → dawn (short, sharp peak)
Expected Rate: High potential, but full moon this year will drastically reduce counts.
Moon Phases
🌕
FULL MOON
JANUARY 3
("Wolf Moon" supermoon)
Peak Night: Sat, Jan 3
Best Time to Shoot the Moon: After moonrise Jan 3
Direction in Sky: Rising in the East (sets in the West slightly after sunrise).
🌑
NEW MOON
JANUARY 18
🤓 Fun Fact: Earth at perihelion on Jan 3 (closest to the Sun) coincides with the supermoon.
Days You Can Shoot the Milky Way Core in January
0
Milky Way core: Not visible
Use the deep sky window instead:
Green: Jan 15-23
Yellow: Jan 13-14, Jan 24-26
Red: Jan 1-12, Jan 27-31
Notes
Deep sky window: roughly astro dark (~6:45-7:05 PM) → ~5:15 AM.
Evening: W→NW for M31/M33; E→SE for Pleiades/California/Auriga.
After midnight: SE→S for Orion + Horsehead/Flame.
January 2026 Deep Night Sky Astrophotography Targets & How to Find Them
Target | Where/When | How to find |
Andromeda (M31) | High W → NW at dusk; sets by late evening | star-hop from Cassiopeia/Great Square |
Triangulum (M33) | High W → NW at dusk; fades toward NW late evening | between Andromeda & Aries |
Pleiades (M45) | E→SE evening | near Taurus |
California Nebula (NGC 1499) | NE→E | near Pleiades |
Orion Nebula (M42) | E late; highest near midnight+ | in Orion's Belt |
Horsehead + Flame | ESE after midnight | near Orion’s easternmost belt star (Alnitak) |
Planets
Jupiter: at Opposition (Jan 10), all night, brightest & biggest; easy target for imaging stacks.
Uranus: just past opposition (Nov 21, 2025), still well placed in evening sky through winter
Tips & Guides
Quadrantids: With the full moon, run 10-15 s timelapses to catch the brightest fireballs and keep the moon out of frame, use a cliff or ridge to block the moon.
New moon run (Jan 15-23): Prioritize M31/M33/Pleiades/California before midnight; switch to Orion/Horsehead after.
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FAQ: Astrophotography in January
Can I shoot the Milky Way core in January?
No. The core isn’t visible at night this month (at Moab’s latitude). Use the deep sky window around New Moon (Jan 18).
What nights are best for deep sky?
Jan 15-23 (prime). Jan 13-14 and Jan 24-26 are workable with a thin crescent.
When should I be on location?
Be set by astronomical dusk (~6:45-7:05 PM MST). Plan to shoot until ~5:15 AM if you’re running long integrations.
Where in the sky should I point?
Evening: E→SE (Andromeda, Pleiades, California Nebula). After midnight: SE→S (Orion Complex, Horsehead/Flame).
What about the Quadrantids (Jan 3-4)?
Great shower, bad year: the full/supermoon will severely reduce counts. Strategy: block the moon with terrain, run 10-15 s timelapses, aim for bright fireballs.
What are the best “bridge” targets without a big telescope?
50-85 mm: Wide field Pleiades + California Nebula, Barnard’s Loop as Orion climbs
85-135 mm: California/Flaming Star, M31 with satellite M110
135-200 mm: M31/M33 detail, Horsehead + Flame after midnight
Do I need a star tracker?
Not required, but helpful. Untracked: keep to 5-15 s (50-85 mm) or 3-8 s (135-200 mm). Tracked: 60-180 s subs, dither every 5-10 frames.
Will cold temps affect batteries and focus?
Yes. Keep spares warm in inner pockets. Re-check focus every 20-30 min as temps drop; use magnified live view on a bright star.
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