Watch Opposition Mars Pass Behind the Moon This Week Online
This week offers multiple opportunities to get a good look at the red planet.
On Wednesday (December 7), the full moon will be near a bright March during an event known as the lunar occultation. And on Thursday (December 8), Mars will be in opposition, which means that in Earthof the sky, it will be right in front the sun. These events also coincide with Mars being near perigee (its closest point to Earth), occurred on November 30.
The perfect storm of astronomical events means it’s a wonderful week to observe Mars in the night sky, appearing bigger and brighter than usual and making itself easy to spot next to a cold full moon. And even if you have cloudy skies or can’t get outside, you’re still in luck: there are plenty of opportunities to see Mars at its best this week thanks to several free live streams online.
Related: Mars in opposition will meet the full moon next week (December 7). Here’s how to see it
Read more: Full Moon December 2022: Cold Moon Overshadows Mars
How to see Mars in person this week
For many parts of North America, Europe, and parts of North Africa, the lunar occultation will be visible in the night sky on December 7-8.
The show begins approximately one hour after sunset at the constellation Taurus on December 7 for North American skywatchers as the full moon and Mars approach (in Europe, the event will occur just before sunrise on December 8). Depending on where you are, the red planet will then disappear behind the moon before reappearing an hour later.
Sky and Telescope has produced a guide to when and where you can see Mars (opens in a new tab)disappear behind the moon this week during the lunar occultation.
Livestream from Griffith Observatory on the Lunar Occultation of Mars
On Wednesday, December 7, the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California will host a free live stream online (opens in a new tab) of the lunar occultation of Mars. The broadcast will begin at 9:00 p.m. EST (02:00 GMT on December 8), weather permitting. Mars will disappear behind the Moon at 9:31 p.m. EST (02:31 GMT) and reappear an hour later.
The observatory will also upload an accelerated recording of the event on Thursday, December 8 at 11:00 a.m. EST (16:00 GMT).
McDonald Observatory livestream of March to Opposition
McDonald Observatory at the University of Texas at Austin, in conjunction with Lowell Observatory in Arizona, will host a Mars to Opposition live stream. The broadcast begins on Thursday (December 8) at 9:00 p.m. EST (02:00 GMT on December 9) and can be found on the McDonald Observatory YouTube Channel (opens in a new tab).
Hosts from both observatories will provide commentary during the event that will include discussions of Martian geology and history as well as spaceflight missions to the Red Planet. Weather permitting, the live stream will include live views of Mars opposite telescopes from both observing sites.
The livestream of the Mars-occulting moon virtual telescope project to the opposition
The Virtual Telescope Project (opens in a new tab) will host a free livestream of the moon obscuring Mars in opposition. The broadcast will begin at 10:00 p.m. EST on Thursday (03:00 GMT on December 9) and can be found at the project’s YouTube channel (opens in a new tab).
What does it mean when Mars is in opposition?
When astronomers say a planet is in opposition, it means that the planet, Earth, and the sun are all in a straight line, with Earth in the middle. This arrangement means that the planet is literally opposite the sun, hence the term “opposition”, making the planet appear brightly lit from our vantage point on Earth.
When the Red Planet is in opposition, it is much brighter than usual and therefore much easier to see in the night sky. This event only happens every 26 months, and the planet’s elliptical orbit means that during some oppositions, Mars is closer to Earth than others.
During this week’s opposition, Mars will be closer to Earth than it will be until 2033. The Royal Astronomical Society has set up a great explainer (opens in a new tab) about the event, including the video below.
What is a Lunar Occultation of Mars?
The word “occult” means to conceal or hide from view; When astronomers refer to an occultation, they mean an event in which one celestial object passes in front of another from an observer’s perspective, hiding the object behind it. In the case of Mars’ lunar occultation this week, this means that from Earth, the moon will appear to conceal or “cover” the Red Planet. For many viewers, Mars will disappear behind the Moon for about an hour before reappearing.
There are enough occultations throughout a given year for there to be a International Occult Synchronization Association (opens in a new tab) which provides detailed information such as the exact locations and times of other occultations.
The Griffith Observatory has published an explanatory video (opens in a new tab) of the event below.
Read more: What is a concealment?
Whether you’re new to stargazing or have been doing it for years, make sure you don’t miss our guides to the best binoculars and the best telescopes to see the Mars occultation and other amazing things in the night sky. To capture the best images of Mars or the moon you can, check out our recommendations for the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography.
Editor’s note: If you take a great photo of Mars during lunar opposition or occultation and want to share it with Space.com readers, send your photo(s), comments, and name and location to [email protected].
