Mars hides behind the Full Wolf Moon in gorgeous photos from around the world

image via Space.com

January 14, 2025, 5:09 PM

• •The moon performed a cosmic ballet with Mars this week.
• •The result was a stunning lunar occultation of Mars that was seen by large parts of North America and western Africa.
• •Luckily, plenty of skywatchers, photographers and Space.com readers caught the spectacle on camera in the gorgeous photos below.

The moon performed a cosmic ballet with Mars this week. On Monday evening (Jan. 13), the Full Wolf Moon passed in front of Mars in what's known as a lunar occultation, during which another celestial object appears to disappear behind the moon from our vantage point on Earth. Mars is approaching opposition on Wednesday (Jan. 15), the moment when it is situated directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth, which means it's at its brightest in our night sky right now. Additionally, Mars recently passed perigee on Jan. 12, its closest point to Earth in its orbit around the sun, which makes it slightly larger in the sky. The result? A stunning lunar occultation of Mars that was seen by large parts of North America and western Africa. Luckily, plenty of skywatchers, photographers and Space.com readers caught the spectacle on camera in the gorgeous photos below.

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