The moon, appearing as a waxing gibbous phase, two-thirds illuminated, will appear to stand well above a very bright, non-twinkling, silvery "star." But it won't be a star that will be keeping the moon company on the second night of the New Year, but the largest planet in the solar system: Jupiter.

Jupiter is currently boldly shining fully three times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky (which comes up above the southeast horizon around 6:45 p.m.). It appears about 3 1/2 times dimmer than the dazzling planet Venus which itself appears to mimic a brilliant lamp well up in the southwest at nightfall.