Next year brings quite a few interesting celestial events that no sky watcher can miss. Starting 2009, Venus will be more visible than ever, as planet Jupiter will slowly set below the horizon. Sky watchers will be able to spot Venus in the southwestern horizon after the sunset.

The planet will be so bright, as even people living in big cities will be able to watch it with the naked eye. Venus will be visible throughout January.

As long as you have a clear view on the horizon, you should also see Mercury, starting the end of December. The planet will rise slightly above the horizon for about ten days.

You will be able to see Venus and the moon, which will be in its crescent phase, in the upper part of the southwestern skies just as you say “Happy New Year!”. After December 31, both celestial bodies will start going farther away from each other.

Saturn will also say hello from somewhere between Leo and Virgo constellations every night at 11 p.m. If you are rather an early riser, you may see Saturn as it goes up in the southern part of the sky. However, Saturn will be visible from urban locations as well, as it will glow in the eastern skies for a couple of days at the end of February.

People living in the Washington area might see a shower of Quadrantid meteors just before dawn on January 3. Nevertheless, other people might be also lucky, as astronomers believe that random Quadrantids shall fall in other areas within the first five days of next month.