A rare astronomical event will occur on January 13 when Mars disappears behind the full moon in a lunar occultation. This event, visible from the United States, is the only lunar occultation of Mars this year.
The event coincides with Mars’ opposition, when the planet will be directly opposite the sun, making it appear its brightest and largest. Mars will be closest to Earth at this time, and the lunar occultation will be visible across the contiguous U.S., parts of Canada, Mexico, and Western Africa.
Read more: Elon Musk Plans to Establish a City of 1,000,000 People on Mars by 2054
Mars will begin to disappear behind the moon at 8:44 p.m. EST on January 13 and will reappear at 12:52 a.m. EST on January 14, though times may vary by location.
Stargazers are advised to find dark areas away from artificial light to get the best view. While Mars is visible to the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope will provide a clearer view of the planet’s red hues and the moon’s craters. High-powered optics may even reveal Mars’ northern ice cap and the Valles Marineris canyon.
The next lunar occultation of Mars will take place in February, but only in parts of northern Scandinavia, Russia, and Asia. The next time this event will be visible in the U.S. will be in 2042.
