New Year! New Adoptions! New Moon!

January marks a natural moment of renewal, both here on Earth and across the night sky. As a new year begins, we’re focused on making astronomy more accessible than ever with simplified, user-friendly memberships designed to support curious learners at every level. We’re also excited to welcome new institutional adoptions to the Slooh network, expanding opportunities for discovery in classrooms and communities around the world. With a bright Full Moon setting the stage for fresh observations and new beginnings, we’re embracing our word of the year: Discover...a reminder that every great journey in science begins by looking up and asking what’s next.

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Slooh Headquarters: Stars Hollow

Slooh HQ, Washington Depot, CT

Did you know that Slooh’s headquarters in Washington, Connecticut, is located in the very town that inspired Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls?

This is a place known for cozy nights, big dreams, and conversations that seem to go on forever. It’s a town where curiosity feels natural, and wonder is part of everyday life, making it a fitting home for an organization dedicated to exploring the universe. We at Slooh love this connection! It’s always a delight to see Gilmore Girls fans passing through town and appreciating our sign, a playful nod to the iconic Stars Hollow welcome from the show.

Slooh Welcomes Yale University for Spring 2026!

In a moment that could have been written into an episode itself, Yale has officially adopted Slooh for 2026! From stargazing in a town synonymous with storytelling and charm to partnering with one of the most iconic universities, this connection feels so surreal. Rory Gilmore herself (legendary Yale alum) would be thrilled. The cherry on top is that in one of the episodes, there is a discussion of Rory's grandparents buying an astronomy building in her name at Yale! What a perfect coincidence. We’re beyond excited for what’s ahead in both Stars Hollow at Slooh HQ and in partnering with Yale!

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Your January Skywatching Guide

January 3 – Full Wolf Moon

This full moon occurs at 10:04 UTC and will appear slightly larger and brighter than usual since the Moon will be near its closest approach to Earth. Named the Wolf Moon because it falls when hungry wolf packs would howl outside camps in winter.

January 3 & 4 – Quadrantids Meteor Shower Peak

One of the strongest meteor showers of the year is known for its bright fireballs. It peaks in the pre-dawn hours of January 4th and is best viewed from the Northern Hemisphere. The peak period is relatively short, lasting only a few hours.

January 10 – Jupiter at Opposition

Jupiter will be at its closest to Earth and fully illuminated, making it brighter than at any other time of the year and visible all night long. This is the best opportunity to view and photograph Jupiter and its four largest moons. This is perfect timing to capture Jupiter on Slooh!

Honorable Mentions

January 3 – Earth at Perihelion

Earth reaches its closest point to the Sun in its orbit, about 147 million kilometers away at 16:42 UTC.

January 18 – New Moon

Perfect for observing faint deep-sky objects like galaxies and star clusters since there's no moonlight interference.

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January Quest Guide

January brings long nights in the Northern Hemisphere, a bright full moon, and a perfect opportunity to explore both the beginnings of the year—and the beginnings of the Universe. Here are some Quests that help students kick off the new year with discovery.

🐺🌕 Howling at the Wolf Moon: January opens with the Wolf Moon 2026 Quest, where students uncover the history and meaning behind January’s full moon and capture it themselves on January 3, 2026. Students should schedule their missions as early as possible; it's happening soon! 

❄️🌕 Looking Ahead to the Snow Moon: The snow moon is February's full moon. We're putting the Snow Moon 2026 Quest in this newsletter because the February full moon happens on February 1st. Students can start scheduling missions on January 26, 2026, to capture February’s Snow Moon while learning about the history and meaning behind this full moon.

🌙 A Year of Full Moons: In the Full Moons of 2026 Quest, students take on the challenge of capturing all 13 full moons of the year. Along the way, they’ll investigate which full moons are supermoons and learn why some appear larger and brighter than others in this culminating lunar Quest.

🌌 The Beginning of Everything: The start of a new year is the perfect time to explore the start of the Universe. In the Story of the Big Bang Quest, students trace cosmic history from the earliest moments after the Big Bang to the formation of galaxies, including our own Milky Way.

🌍 Exploring Earth from Space: The Climate Explorers Quest turns students into Earth scientists using real satellite data. With Slooh’s Sentinel-2 imagery, students investigate how climate zones relate to latitude and longitude, analyze patterns across tropical, temperate, and polar regions, and create a poster showcasing their discoveries.

💻Share Your Discoveries: Encourage students to share the images they capture with our telescopes! The Gravity Awards Quest teaches how to post Observations and engage with the Slooh community.

Student Spotlight

Pathways Innovation Center - Casper Planetarium

Pathways is a program rather than a school located in Casper, Wyoming. They have students from all 3 high schools in town, and the students can take the course for college credit at Casper College if they choose. Students at Pathways often attend because they are interested in certifications that lead to job placement, such as culinary arts, Certified Nursing Assistant, welding, or automotive. But because some of them may be interested in college down the road, they take this space science class to meet their science requirements.

"Here are some posters and photos my students have created. I often have students who are so amazed by SLOOH that they complete quests and capture images on their own." -Rod Kennedy, Educator

We love seeing how Slooh inspires students across diverse educational pathways! Thank you, Rod, for sharing your students' incredible work with us.

Featured Slooh 1000

The Orion Nebula (M42)

January is the ideal month to marvel at one of the most spectacular sights in the night sky – the Orion Nebula. Nestled within Orion’s sword, this vast stellar nursery is a swirling cloud of gas and dust where new stars are born. Its vibrant colors and intricate structure make it a favorite among Slooh members and a highlight of many Slooh Quests.

Don’t miss the chance to capture this cosmic masterpiece while Orion dominates the skies from all three Slooh observatories!

Check out some of the spectacular images members have shared and schedule your own mission today!

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Not yet a Slooh member? Learn more about our monthly memberships and sign up at slooh.com!