The moon will serve as a celestial guide for stargazers to spot Mars in the night sky. The two celestial bodies will be visible together, even without binoculars, and will participate in a conjunction, appearing close together in the night sky. A limited number of viewers may even witness an occultation, where Mars disappears behind the moon before reappearing.
Tonight offers a prime opportunity for stargazers to witness a celestial spectacle as the moon serves as a guide to locate Mars in the night sky. This alignment is ideal for beginners seeking clear and concise views of celestial objects. The pair will be easily discernible to the naked eye and can be observed together through binoculars.
For those unable to venture out or experience unfavorable weather conditions, the Virtual Telescope Project provides a complimentary livestream starting at 2:00 pm ET (1900 GMT). This live feed allows viewers worldwide to share in the celestial event.Beyond their proximity in the night sky, the moon and Mars will participate in a conjunction, a celestial arrangement where two objects share the same right ascension, akin to longitude on Earth. Although they appear close, the actual distance between them is approximately 68 million miles (109 million kilometers). Interestingly, a select few skywatchers may witness an occultation, where Mars momentarily disappears behind the moon before reappearing. This phenomenon occurs due to the moon's proximity to Earth relative to Mars, making it visible only in specific regions. Areas in northeast Canada, Greenland, Russia, and central China are expected to have a clear view of this occultation. Space enthusiasts are encouraged to share their captivating photographs of the moon and Mars with Space.com's readers
MOON MARS CONJUNCTION OCCULTATION NIGHT SKY
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Wolf Moon and Mars: How to See January 2025 Full Moon With the Red PlanetJanuary's Wolf Moon is set to gobble up Mars tonight—you won't want to miss this.
Read more »
See The Moon And Mars Skim Bright Stars: The Night Sky This WeekEach Monday, I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere).
Read more »
First Full Moon of the Year Peaks Monday Night: A Glimpse of the 'Wolf Moon'The first full moon of 2023, known as the 'Wolf Moon,' reaches its peak illumination on Monday night, offering a spectacular celestial display. Native American traditions gave the moon its name, referring to the howling of wolves outside villages during winter. Stargazers in the continental US can also enjoy a planetary alignment, with the moon passing in front of Mars and Venus and Jupiter shining brightly in the night sky.
Read more »
How to see the full 'Wolf Moon' swallow Mars this weekJamie Carter is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor based in Cardiff, U.K. He is the author of A Stargazing Program For Beginners and lectures on astronomy and the natural world. Jamie regularly writes for Space.com, TechRadar.com, Forbes Science, BBC Wildlife magazine and Scientific American, and many others.
Read more »
Moon to Cover Mars in Rare Celestial EventOn January 13, 2025, the moon will occult Mars, an event visible across much of North America. Learn about the visibility, timing, and details of this celestial alignment.
Read more »
Mars to Shine Brightest as Moon Covers It in 'Occultation' EventMars will be visible as its brightest in January, appearing opposite the Sun and close to Earth. The event will culminate in a lunar occultation, where the Moon will briefly cover Mars just before 9:30 p.m. on Monday night.
Read more »