The night time of December 7-8, 2022 is when to be seeking to the night time sky as a result of that’s when a full … [+]
Are you prepared for the largest astronomical occasion of the yr?
The night time of Wednesday, December 7, 2022 is when to be seeking to the night time sky as a result of that’s when a full “Cold Moon” will seem to blot out Mars.
Right here’s every little thing you want about when, the place and methods to see this uncommon “occultation” of Mars by the Moon from the place you might be—and with simply your individual bare eyes:
When is Mars at ‘opposition?’
This week the purple planet will look its brightest and finest for over two years as Earth and Mars are at their closest. The latest opposition of Mars was in October 2020 and the following one will likely be in January 2025.
Nevertheless it’s an entire coincidence that simply as Mars reaches its greatest, brightest and finest for 26 months it will likely be occulted—eclipsed—by the complete Moon. That can happen at nearly the precise second that the Earth is between Mars and the Solar on the night time of December 7-8, 2022.
The Moon will cowl Mars for viewers throughout a lot of North America, northern Mexico, and most of … [+]
The place to see Mars occulted by the Moon
Most of North America, northern Mexico, Europe and northern Africa will see Mars disappear behind the Moon for about an hour.
It should occur whereas Mars is within the within the constellation of Taurus, “the bull” and Mars will shine at a magnitude of -1.9. That’s nearly as brilliant because it ever will get as seen from Earth.
When to see Mars occulted by the Moon
The occultation takes place for North Individuals within the night hours of December 7, 2022. Listed here are the disappearance and reappearance instances for eight cities within the occultation zone in North America:
- Los Angeles, CA: 6:30 p.m. PST-7:30 p.m. PST
- Seattle, WA: 6:52 p.m. PST-7:51 p.m. PST
- Vancouver, BC: 6:55 p.m. PST-7:52 p.m. PST
- Phoenix, AZ: 7:32 p.m. MST-8:31 p.m. MST
- Denver, CO: 7:45 p.m. MST-8:48 p.m. MST
- St. Louis, MO: 9:06 p.m. CST-9:52 p.m. CST
- Chicago, IL: 9:11 p.m. CST-10:05 p.m. CST
- Toronto, ON: 10:29 p.m. EST-11:18 p.m. EST
In Europe is all occurs on Thursday, December 8, 2022. As seen from London, Mars will disappear at 04:58 GMT and reappear at 05:59 GMT.
Mars reappering from behind the Moon after being occulted on September nineteenth. This occasion was seen … [+]
Find out how to see Mars occulted by the Moon
You don’t want something besides good timing and your individual bare eyes to get pleasure from this occasion, although for those who do have a a pair of binoculars do have them prepared for a surprising close-up—significantly the lingering moments the place Mars disappears from view behind the lunar limb.
Wishing you clear skies and vast eyes.
