Among New Mexico’s myriad cultural resources are its dark skies—windows into our ancestral night-sky heritage. As an amateur astronomer and lover of stories, I’m pulled into the inky black canvas that has fueled imaginations of countless previous generations. I look up, as well as backwards in time to connect with those who have shared these sights. Each month, I’ll offer tips to find your own way of connecting with this cosmic skyscape.
January is a perfect time to bundle up and pack a thermos of hot chocolate before stepping out for crystal-clear viewing. Though a bright, waning moon will contend, the Quadrantid meteor shower hits its peak on January 3, and can be seen emanating from the northwest. The second full moon of the month, known as a blue moon, will turn dark red just before sunrise on January 31, signaling a lunar eclipse.