This evening, (6:50PM, 1/2/26) I went outside to see if I could see a pass of the Chinese space Station, Tiangong. Surprisingly, the sky was clear. We have had quite a lot of cloudy nights lately. The temperature was hovering just under 20°, so I made sure to dress appropriately.
The pass was going to be low to my horizon and there was a good chance that I’d miss it. Going out to watch these passes have always excited me, no matter what the temperature is, so I had decided to give it a try! I walked up and down the street watching for it to skim over my neighbor’s houses but as expected, the space station couldn’t be seen.
The bright full moon was casting shadows in front of me. I turned around and looked at it for a couple minutes. I couldn’t help but notice the “Rabbit in the moon”. Once you’ve seen it, you can’t help but notice it. I had always seen the “Man in the Moon”, until the rabbit was shown to me and now, it’s tough for me to see anything else.
With my binoculars I looked at Jupiter which was rising below the moon, still hanging in the trees above the horizon, and then Saturn which was hanging high in the sky off towards the west. I looked at a couple other bright stars and attempted to see Orion but it was still too low, hidden by the trees or else, maybe it was the light of the moon and my poor eyes. I’d have to come out later to see it, once it rises a bit higher in the sky.
I considered bringing a telescope outside, but knowing how my back has been acting, I decided against it. No heavy weights right now. I took a couple pictures of the moon and then returned inside to my nice warm house.
I was only out for about a half hour, but it was enough for the cold to set in. Still, even though I was cold, I was happy; I got my first observations of the year! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for more clear skies in the future! And now, since I’m warmed up again, I think I’ll go back outside and take another look for Orion!
