The moon occults Mars on December 7-8
Right here’s hoping you’ve got clear skies on the night time of December 7-8, 2022, as a result of there’s a lot to see! First, the full moon is up all night time, close to vivid purple Mars.
You say you’ve regarded that night time, and may’t see Mars close to the moon? That is likely to be since you’re trying when Mars is behind the moon. In reality, the moon will go in entrance of the purple planet, as seen from a lot of North America and Europe, on the night time of December 7-8. Astronomers name this occasion an occultation. The moon is alleged to occult Mars. It eclipses it, or covers it.
This fascinating and strange occasion seems to North American skywatchers who’re northwest of a diagonal line drawn from Augusta, Maine, by way of Columbus, Ohio, by way of Little Rock, Arkansas, and San Antonio, Texas, extending into Mexico. The map beneath will let in case your a part of the world will get to view the occultation.
Watch the occultation online via Virtual Telescope!
Who will see the moon occults Mars? And when?
In the event you’re within the viewing space indicated on the chart above, you’ll additionally want a exact time to your location. The occasion will occur on the night of December 7 for many of us in North America. Try In-the-Sky.org to search out the exact time Mars will disappear and reappear from wherever you might be.
For many who stay outdoors the viewing space, as within the southeastern United States, you’ll see the moon and Mars skim proper previous one another. Some locations will even get to see Mars play peekaboo alongside the cratered and mountainous limb of the moon.
How are you going to view it?
A full moon is vivid. And it’s completely illuminated as seen from Earth. Individuals who observe occultations usually attempt to catch each the disappearance and reappearance of the star or planet, because it’s blotted from view. However this type of commentary is far simpler for those who watching a darkened fringe of the moon. And we don’t have a darkened edge accessible to us at full moon. By definition, a full moon is solely illuminated.
Plus most common occultation observers use telescopes.
So what’s going to you see of the December 7-8 occultation of Mars? The reply is determined by how arduous you strive, what instruments you employ, the place you might be on Earth – as at all times on the standard of your night time sky – and in your expertise observing occasions like this. Mars is at its brightest now. So, with the attention alone, we should always all be capable of spot Mars within the moon’s glare.
However you’ll see extra for those who use binoculars. And much more with a telescope (though the glare of the complete moon can be intense by way of your ‘scope’s eyepiece). And, wow, what an awesome picture alternative!
It’ll be a difficult commentary. However many can be watching. As veteran skywatcher Bob King (aka AstroBob of the Duluth Information Tribune) wrote at SkyandTelescope.com:
I’m actually curious if we’ll proceed to see Mars with the unaided eye proper as much as the moon’s edge. I believe we’ll. Additionally, at what level will the planet disappear from view because it dips behind the moon? Hold these binoculars useful! Telescopic observers will get fabulous views, particularly these dwelling inside the southern graze zone, the place the moon will partially occult the planet.
Thanks, AstroBob!
Why is it occurring?
Earth goes between the solar and Mars about each two years. That’ll occur round 6 UTC (12 a.m. CST) on December 8. That is Mars’ opposition, an occasion we astronomers await, and luxuriate in.
A full moon occurs each month. And this month’s full moon comes simply a few hours earlier than Mars’ time of opposition, at 04:08 UTC on December 8, 2022 (10:08 p.m. CST on December 7).
A full moon seems full to us as a result of it’s reverse the solar from Earth. And Mars – or any outer planet – is reverse the solar from Earth at opposition. So it’s no shock that this month’s full moon is someplace close to Mars. Planets are at all times close to the complete moon someday round their time of their oppositions.
What’s so particular in 2022 is that these occasions – full moon and Mars’ opposition – occur so close to one another in time. Round 4 to 6 UTC on December 8, the solar, Earth, moon and Mars can be almost in a line.
And, what’s extra, the complete moon gained’t simply go close to Mars within the sky. Its path throughout the sky (which varies in an 18-year cycle) is such in 2022 that it’ll go instantly in entrance of Mars.
Very cool!
Read: December on December 7-8 full moon mimics the June sun
Read: Mars at opposition on December 7-8
Backside line: On the night time of December 7-8, 2022, the complete moon will occult, or cowl over, Mars. Simply hours later, Earth will go between Mars and the solar. Particulars right here.
