Bootleg Astronomers

The Bootleg Star Party Registration Form is available SOON (pre-registration deadline is TBD, 2026) 12th)

*** Due to the number of people doing imaging at the Bootleg Star Parties, Bootleg Management is indicating that Green Lasers will not be permitted starting one hour after sunset ***

1	Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 21:39 UT (distance 360,348km; angular size 33.2').
2	Moon near M35 Cluster at 18h UT (evening sky).
3	Full Moon at 10:03 UT.
3	Earth at Perihelion (closest to Sun) at 17h UT. The Sun-Earth distance is 0.983302 a.u. (147.1 million kilometers). • Sun at Aphelion and Perihelion (Anthony Ayiomamitis)
3	Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks at 21h UT. Active between December 28 and January 12. Expect up to 25 meteors per hour under dark skies. Radiant is in northern Boötes. Northern hemisphere only. Moonlight interferes. • Quadrantids (Wikipedia) • Quadrantids (American Meteor Society) • 2026 Meteor Shower Calendar (PDF) (International Meteor Organization)
3	Moon near Castor at 23h UT (morning sky).
4	Moon near Jupiter at 0h UT (morning sky). Mag. −2.7.
4	Moon near Pollux at 4h UT (morning sky).
5	Moon near Beehive Cluster (M44) at 4h UT (morning sky).
6	Venus at superior conjunction with the Sun at 16h UT (not visible). The brightest planet passes into the evening sky.
6	Moon near Regulus at 18h UT (morning sky).
6	Mercury at southernmost declination (−24.4°) at 21h UT (morning sky). Mag. −0.2.
9	Mars at conjunction with the Sun at 12h UT. Mars passes into the morning sky.
10	Jupiter at opposition at 9h UT. This is the best time to view the largest planet in the Solar System. Mag. −2.7.
10	Last Quarter Moon at 15:48 UT.
11	Moon near Spica at 0h UT (morning sky).
13	Moon at apogee (farthest from Earth) at 21h UT (distance 405,438km; angular size 29.5').
14	Moon near Antares at 21h UT ( morning sky).
18	New Moon at 19:52 UT. Start of lunation 1275.
21	Mercury at superior conjunction with the Sun at 16h UT (not visible). The innermost planet passes into the evening sky.
23	Pluto at conjunction with the Sun at 2h UT. Pluto passes into the morning sky.
23	Moon near Saturn at 10h UT (evening sky). Mag. 1.2.
26	First Quarter Moon at 4:47 UT.
27	Moon near the Pleiades at 22h UT (evening sky).
29	Moon at perigee (closest to Earth) at 21:46 UT (distance 365,871km; angular size 32.7').
30	Moon near M35 Cluster at 3h UT (evening sky).
31	Moon near Jupiter at 4h UT (evening sky). Mag. −2.6.
31	Moon near Castor at 9h UT (evening sky).
31	Moon near Pollux at 14h UT (evening sky).

>>> All times Universal Time (UT). USA Central Standard Time = UT-6 hours. (DST = UT-5 hrs,)

Zodiacal Light is caused by sunlight reflected off meteoric dust in the plane of the solar system. Choose a clear, moonless night, about 1-2 hours after sunset, and look for a large triangular-shaped glow extending up from the horizon (along the ecliptic). The best months to view the Zodiacal Light is when the ecliptic is almost vertical at the horizon: March and April (evening) and October-November (morning); times reversed for the southern hemisphere.
• Zodiacal Light (Wikipedia)
• Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)
• Photographing the Zodiacal Light (Weatherscapes)