The upcoming week features mostly calm weather with light and variable winds. Sunday will start with some morning clouds, clearing to sunny skies, with a high of 56°F, and a clear night near 41°F. Monday and Tuesday bring partly cloudy conditions with highs in the upper 50s and lows around 40°F. Wednesday will be mostly cloudy, with a chance of showers late at night (40%), and temperatures similar to earlier in the week. Thursday through Saturday sees a mix of partly cloudy to mostly cloudy skies, highs in the upper 50s, and lows in the low 40s. https://www.kcra.com/weather

From January 16–25, the night sky offers a rich array of celestial sights. Capella and Rigel cross the meridian together, and Sirius aligns under Betelgeuse in the southeast. Orion dominates the evening sky, with its tiny head triangle highlighted in binoculars. The crescent Moon descends past Saturn, while the Pleiades cluster shines overhead. Jupiter, just past opposition, remains bright near Delta Geminorum, with its moons casting visible shadows. Saturn glows in the southwest, Uranus is high near the Pleiades, and Neptune lingers by Saturn. Mercury, Venus, and Mars remain hidden in solar glare. Observers can enjoy the evolution of lunar features and winter constellations nightly. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-january-16-25/

NASA is preparing for the February launch of Artemis II, the first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. The 322-foot Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft are being rolled to Launch Complex 39B at the Kennedy Space Center after final integration. The mission, targeting no earlier than February 6, will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen. They will orbit the moon for about 10 days before returning to Earth. A wet dress rehearsal will precede the launch, with subsequent windows in March and April if needed. Crew safety remains NASA’s top priority. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/nasa-prepares-to-roll-out-mega-artemis-ii-rocket-ahead-of-astronaut-moon-mission/1852808

January brings a subtle yet significant increase in daylight across the United States, even as winter remains in full swing. Following the winter solstice on Dec. 21, days begin lengthening gradually, with only seconds of change at first. By the end of January, southern cities like Orlando gain about 28 minutes of daylight, while northern locations such as Seattle experience over an hour more. This increase signals the slow approach of spring, though the sun’s low angle still provides limited warmth. Longer days will continue building toward warmer weather as the sun climbs higher in the months ahead. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/january-quietly-brings-a-big-change-to-daylight-across-the-us/1850342

The week’s weather will feature mostly sunny to partly cloudy conditions with light and variable winds. Daytime highs gradually rise from the low 50s on Sunday to around 60°F by Saturday, while nighttime lows remain in the upper 30s to low 40s. Sunday through Wednesday bring a mix of sun and occasional clouds, with clear nights. From Thursday onward, sunny days with a few passing clouds continue, and mild winds shift slightly to the northeast by Friday and Saturday at 5 to 10 mph. Overall, the week is calm, dry, and seasonably mild with minimal wind activity. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s night sky offers highlights for stargazers from January 9–18. Vega twinkles in the northwest at dusk, while Algol dims on January 9. Jupiter reaches opposition on January 10, rising at sunset and dominating the night sky near Pollux and Castor, with Io disappearing and reemerging on January 13. The Great Orion Nebula, with variable star T Orionis, invites telescopic observation. Capella and the Kids sparkle in the east, and the winter Milky Way arches across the sky. Sirius shines below Orion, with the New Moon on January 18. Mercury, Venus, and Mars remain hidden; Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are visible in evening skies. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-january-9-18/

In 2026, space exploration will capture global attention with historic milestones and celestial events. NASA’s Artemis II mission, planned for February, will send astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day loop around the moon, marking the first crewed lunar flyby in over 50 years. Later, a total solar eclipse on August 12 will traverse the Arctic, Greenland, Iceland, and parts of Europe, drawing cruise ship enthusiasts, while a partial eclipse will be visible in New England. Additionally, multiple robotic lunar landings under NASA’s CLPS program aim to advance science and prepare for future human missions. https://www.accuweather.com/en/space-news/top-space-and-astronomy-stories-to-watch-in-2026/1846932

The week features mostly cool, damp weather with intermittent showers. Sunday brings morning rain tapering to scattered showers, highs around 54°F, and light winds. Occasional showers and clouds persist into Sunday night. Monday through Wednesday sees periodic morning showers with partial afternoon clearing, highs in the low 50s, and light, variable winds. Nights are mostly cloudy with lows in the mid-40s, dipping to the upper 30s by Saturday. Thursday and Friday remain mostly cloudy with scattered showers. The weekend trends drier, with Saturday mostly sunny and cooler, offering clearer skies and highs near 50°F. https://www.kcra.com/weather

This week’s sky events feature stunning lunar and planetary sights. A full Moon appears near Jupiter, Castor, and Pollux on January 2–3, coinciding with the Quadrantid meteor shower, though moonlight will hinder viewing. Jupiter dominates the night sky, with its Great Red Spot and moon transits visible almost nightly, culminating in its opposition on January 10, when it rises at sunset and spans 47 arcseconds. The Little Dipper hangs straight down, while Orion and Sirius brighten evenings. Saturn sets earlier in the southwest, Uranus is near the Pleiades, and Neptune lingers above Saturn as winter constellations sparkle in January’s chill. https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/observing-news/this-weeks-sky-at-a-glance-january-2-11/

The upcoming week will feature mostly cloudy skies with intermittent showers. Sunday begins partly cloudy, becoming overcast by afternoon with a high near 58°F, and rain is possible overnight. Monday remains cool around 55°F with light winds and evening showers. Tuesday and Wednesday are mostly cloudy, with highs in the mid-50s and occasional brief sunshine. Showers return Wednesday night into Thursday, continuing off and on through Friday, with temperatures remaining in the low to mid-50s. The weekend brings scattered showers early Saturday, clearing to partly cloudy later, with lows around 42°F and highs dipping to the upper 40s. https://www.kcra.com/weather