If you haven't been stargazing for a few months, you might be surprised to step outdoors under a dark sky to see the early evening sky of January.

Astronomers often refer to the wintertime sky as the "brightest" of the year. What we mean, of course, is that the stars appear much more dazzling than during any other season.

People tend to think that the stars shine so brilliantly during JAnuary because the weather is so cold and that this, somehow, makes the stars appear bright and crisp. While this may contribute in some to this effect, there is a much more fundamental reason for the brilliance. The night sky of winter contains more bright stars than during any other season. It is really as simple as that. STargazers throuhout the Untied States can now find eight of the 25 brightest stars during the early evening hours. THe brisghtest, of course, is Sirius. You can find these sparkling gems low in the southeastern sky shortly after dark.

Sirius is the most brilliant star in all the heavens. It outshines number two, Capella. Look for CApella high in the northeastern sky after dark this month.

If seeing so many bright stars at once isn't impressive enough for you, add to it the red planet Mars. Mars now shines among these stars and, believe it or not, outshines all of them except Sirius.

There is no mistaking Mars. Its reddish color is obvious to just about everyone. It appears so bright in the sky right now because it has recently passed its closest point to the earth.

The advantage of this collection of celestial bewacons, of course, is that one doesn't need to venture off into the wildnerness to see them. EVen urban stargazers can easily enjoy everyone of them.

If on the other hand, you decide to travel to a dark sky site for your stargbazing this month, you will be absolutely stunned by the glittering stars that make up the wintertime sky.