Four Historic Spacecraft Glow in January’s Night Sky This Month

January brings a unique opportunity to spot four historic spacecraft as they journey through the night sky. From the distant Voyager 1 to the upcoming Europa Clipper, each mission is visible in different constellations this month. Observers can track their paths before dawn and into the evening hours.

Voyager 1, launched in 1977, remains the farthest human-made object from Earth. In January, it appears in Ophiuchus, nestled between the stars Rasalhague, Kappa Ophiuchi, and Rasalgethi. The probe climbs above the eastern horizon before sunrise, reaching around 50 degrees altitude by dawn.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), sent into space on Christmas Day 2021, will be visible near the star Nu Orionis in Orion this month. Over the following weeks, it drifts toward Jupiter, tracing a slow path across the sky. Meanwhile, the ESA/NASA Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) mission cuts through Ophiuchus on January 19. Its trajectory then shifts toward the ‘Teapot’ asterism in Sagittarius. JUICE is set to arrive at Jupiter in July 2031 to study its icy moons. NASA’s Europa Clipper, due to launch in October 2024, can be spotted near Libra this January. Once operational, it will reach Jupiter by 2030, joining JUICE in exploring the gas giant’s mysterious satellites.

These four missions—each at different stages of their voyages—offer a rare chance to witness deep-space exploration in real time. Voyager 1 continues its exit from the solar system, while JWST, JUICE, and Europa Clipper prepare for future discoveries around Jupiter. Their positions this month provide a snapshot of humanity’s expanding reach into the cosmos.