Space Weather News for January 4, 2003<br />http://www.spaceweather.com<br /><br /><br />SATURN AND THE CRAB NEBULA: The planet Saturn is gliding by the Crab<br />Nebula in Taurus--a rare encounter that amateur astronomers can watch<br />using backyard telescopes. Saturn is about 3800 times brighter the Crab,<br />so the planet will probably overwhelm the wispy nebula on January 4th when<br />the pair overlap. During the days that follow, however, the pair will<br />separate and make a fine target for observing. Visit spaceweather.com for<br />pictures and sky maps.<br /><br /><br />EARTH AT PERIHELION: Don't look, but today the Sun is a little bigger than<br />usual. That's because Earth is "at perihelion"--our annual closest<br />approach to the Sun. Because of Earth's slightly elliptical orbit, our<br />planet and the Sun are 5 million km closer together in January than they<br />are in July. Then why is it so cold outside (in the northern hemisphere)?<br />Follow the links at spaceweather.com for the answer.