You’re standing in your driveway, maybe taking the dog out for one last bathroom break, and you look up. There it is. A brilliant, unblinking speck of light practically hugging the moon. It’s so bright it feels almost artificial. You think, Is that a plane? A satellite? Some weird secret drone? Mostly, it’s a planet.
Identifying what is the star next to the moon tonight isn't actually about looking for a star at all, because stars usually twinkle. If the light is steady and piercing, you’re looking at a neighbor in our solar system. On this specific night, January 14, 2026, the moon is in its waning crescent phase, and the "star" grabbing your attention is likely the Red Planet, Mars, or potentially the king of planets, Jupiter, depending on your exact line of sight and the hour.
Why it looks like it’s "touching" the moon
This isn't a random accident. Astronomers call this a conjunction. Basically, it’s an optical illusion of proximity. The moon is roughly 238,000 miles away. Mars? That's tens of millions of miles away. They aren't actually close, but from our tiny vantage point on Earth, they line up in the same patch of sky.
It’s kinda like seeing a person’s head "touch" the top of a mountain in a photo. They aren't on the mountain; they’re just in the way.
Tonight’s alignment is particularly striking because the moon is moving through the constellation Scorpio. This creates a bit of a cosmic identity crisis for casual observers. Why? Because Scorpio has a "heart" called Antares. Antares is a massive red supergiant star. It’s famously known as the "Rival of Mars" because it’s reddish and sits right on the ecliptic path where planets hang out.
If you see a reddish tint, you’re either looking at Mars or Antares.
How to tell the difference between Mars and Antares
Honestly, it’s easier than it sounds.
First, check for the "twinkle factor." Stars are distant points of light. Earth’s atmosphere tosses that light around like a salad, making it flicker. Planets are actual discs (even if they look like points). Their light is more robust and tends to punch through the atmosphere without that shimmering effect.
- Mars: Steady, pumpkin-orange glow. It won't flicker much.
- Antares: Shimmering, deeper ruby red. It’s a star, so it will definitely "twinkle."
If the object is incredibly bright—brighter than any star you’ve ever seen—and it’s a creamy white color, you’ve probably caught Jupiter. It’s been dominating the evening sky lately. Venus is also a candidate, but only if you’re looking right after sunset or right before sunrise. Venus never wanders too far from the horizon because it’s an inner planet.
The mechanics of the ecliptic
Everything in our solar system is basically on a flat dinner plate. We call this the ecliptic. Imagine the sun is the center of the plate. All the planets, and our moon, orbit along that flat surface.
This is why you’ll never see a major planet sitting way up near the North Star (Polaris). They all follow the same "highway" across the sky. Tonight, the moon is just passing through a crowded lane on that highway.
Dr. Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, often points out that these events are the best "gateway drug" for amateur astronomy. You don't need a $2,000 telescope. You just need your eyes.
What if it’s moving?
If the "star" next to the moon is moving visibly across the sky while you watch it, it’s not a star or a planet.
- The ISS: If it’s a bright, steady white light moving faster than a plane but slower than a shooting star, it’s the International Space Station. It takes about 6 minutes to cross the sky.
- Starlink: If you see a "train" of lights moving in a perfect line, that’s Elon Musk’s satellite constellation.
- A Plane: If it’s blinking red and green, well, you know what that is.
Understanding the lunar cycle tonight
The moon is currently 25 days old. This means it’s a waning crescent. It looks like a thin silver sliver, which actually makes the planet next to it look even brighter by comparison. When the moon is full, its "albedo" (the amount of light it reflects) is so intense that it washes out nearby planets.
Because the moon is a crescent tonight, you get the "Earthshine" effect.
Have you ever noticed that you can faintly see the rest of the dark circle of the moon even when only a sliver is lit up? That’s light from the Earth reflecting off the moon and back to your eyes. It’s essentially "Earthlight." It makes the whole scene look 3D and incredibly cinematic.
Common misconceptions about "the star"
People often think there’s a permanent star that follows the moon. There isn't. The moon is a fast traveler. It moves about 13 degrees across the sky every single day.
If you look at the moon tomorrow night, it won't be next to that same star. It will have moved "eastward" (to the left, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere) toward a different constellation. This is why "what is the star next to the moon tonight" is a question with a different answer every 24 hours.
In ancient times, planets were called "asteres planetai," which basically means "wandering stars." Ancient Greeks noticed that while the constellations stayed fixed, these five or six bright "stars" just did whatever they wanted. They wandered.
Best ways to view it
You don't need a dark sky site. You can see this from the middle of Times Square or downtown Chicago. Planets are bright enough to cut through heavy light pollution.
If you have a pair of basic bird-watching binoculars, grab them.
Point them at the "star" next to the moon. If it’s Jupiter, you’ll actually see four tiny pinpricks of light in a line around it. Those are the Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. If it’s Mars, you won't see moons, but you’ll see a very clear, solid orange disc.
Why this matters for your 2026 calendar
We are currently in a period of high planetary visibility. 2026 is a "great" year for Mars observers because we are approaching opposition. This is when Earth passes between the Sun and Mars, bringing the two planets as close as they get.
When Mars is near the moon like this, it’s a reminder that we are physically moving through space at 67,000 miles per hour. These conjunctions are the clockwork of the universe.
Actionable steps for your night sky viewing
If you want to be the "space expert" in your friend group, do these three things tonight:
- Download a "Star Map" App: Use SkyView, Stellarium, or Night Sky. You literally just point your phone at the moon, and it will label the object for you using your phone’s GPS and gyroscope. It’s foolproof.
- Look for the "Rival": Look slightly away from the moon. Do you see another reddish light that is twinkling? That’s Antares. Comparing it to the steady light of the planet next to the moon is the fastest way to train your eyes to see the difference between a star and a planet.
- Check the Altitude: If the pair is very low on the horizon, atmospheric refraction might make the planet look like it’s changing colors (flashing red and blue). This is just the "thick" air near the ground acting like a prism.
Tonight is a rare chance to see the celestial dance without any specialized gear. The moon is your guidepost. Whatever is sitting right next to it is a world of its own, likely Mars, waiting for its own visitors one day. Grab a coat, step outside for five minutes, and just look up. It’s the best free show on Earth.
To stay updated on these alignments, follow the NASA SkyWatch feed or check the "Tonight" section of EarthSky.org. These resources track the moon's path through the zodiac constellations daily, so you'll never have to wonder what that bright light is again.
Next Steps for Stargazing Success:
Identify the object's color; if it's distinctly orange-red and steady, it's Mars. Use a free mobile app like Stellarium to confirm its identity based on your specific location. If the sky is clear, check again in two hours to see how much the moon has drifted away from the object.