It is time to take the telescope out.
On Monday evening (Jan. 30), the moon will eclipse Mars in what’s generally known as an occultation — the moon will move in entrance of Mars from the angle of Earth.
Sadly solely a small swath of the planet will have the ability to see the occultation, however that does embody the southern United States, from southern California all the best way to northern Florida, and as far north as Oklahoma, in response to skywatching website In-the-sky.org. (opens in new tab) Different viewing areas embody Mexico, the Caribbean, Central American, and northwestern South America. A full record of viewing occasions by location for each the lunar occultation of Mars and the appulse of the moon and the Purple Planet might be found on Space.com courtesy of veteran skywatcher Joe Rao.
For individuals who cannot see the occasion in particular person, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles is internet hosting a free on-line livestream of the lunar occultation of Mars courtesy of the observatory’s website (opens in new tab) or its YouTube channel (opens in new tab). The livestream begins on Monday (Jan. 30) at 11:00 p.m. EST (0400 GMT on Jan. 31) and can final for 2 hours.
Associated: Don’t miss the moon eclipse Mars next week on Monday (Jan. 30)
For individuals who reside outdoors the zone of visibility of the lunar occultation, you will nonetheless have the ability to witness the conjunction of the moon and Mars, as the 2 celestial our bodies will share the identical right ascension (celestial equal of latitude) in an association generally known as a conjunction. They’re going to even be making a detailed method, generally known as an appulse.
From New York Metropolis, the moon and Mars might be simply one-tenth of a level aside, in response to In-the-sky.org (opens in new tab). The duo might be seen from 12:10 p.m. EST (1710 GMT) till 3:23 a.m. EST (0823 GMT), they usually’ll have the ability to match throughout the subject of view of a telescope. You may additionally have the ability to see the pair with binoculars and the bare eye.
As a 10-day-old moon in its waxing gibbous phase, its floor might be 74 % illuminated from the angle of Earth. It is going to be fairly vibrant with a magnitude of -12.3, whereas Mars might be considerably much less vibrant at magnitude -0.3.
Each the moon and Mars might be much less vibrant than they had been throughout their final occultation, which occurred in December 2022 during a full moon.
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If it’s worthwhile to gear up for tonight’s occultation (or conjunction or appulse) of the moon and Mars, we have ready guides to the best telescopes and best binoculars that can assist you out. And for astrophotographers — budding or skilled — we have additionally rated the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography and put collectively a information on how to photograph the moon.
Editor’s Observe: Should you get an awesome photograph of the shut method or conjunction between Mars and the moon and want to share it with House.com’s readers, ship your photograph(s), feedback, and your title and placement to spacephotos@space.com.
Comply with Stefanie Waldek on Twitter @StefanieWaldek (opens in new tab). Comply with us @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab), or on Facebook (opens in new tab) and Instagram (opens in new tab).
