Waiting for #Mars to do its disappearing trick... #OccultationOfMars

90 minutes prior to the start of the occultation, conditions were mostly clear with scattered clouds and I was able to snap a poor photo of the Moon approaching Mars. At the start of the occultation, the conditions had deteriorated to mostly cloudy with isolated sucker holes.

#mooncat #mars #occultations #occultationofmars #cloudedout

So Mars will disappear behind the Moon at the bright limb of the Moon, and will reappear on the other side also at a bright limb. Occultations normally involve disappearance at a bright or dark limb, and reappearance is at the other.

The event might be a bit difficult to view with the naked eye because the Moon is so bright, but binoculars or a small telescope should show it well.

#OccultationOfMars
#MarsOccultation

For me at the northwesternmost point in Wales, the occultation will take place in the early hours of the morning. Disappearance will be at December 8d 04h 55m UTC (GMT). Reappearance will be at 05h 56m UTC. The times vary with location.

Coincidentally, Mars will reach opposition within an hour of the occultation: it will reach the point directly opposite the Sun in the sky. So the Moon will also be opposite the Sun in the sky. Full moon is at 04h 08m UTC.

#OccultationOfMars
#MarsOccultation

Popular astronomy: an interesting event will take place tomorrow night, an occultation of Mars. The Moon will occult (pass in front of) the planet Mars as seen from most of Europe and North America.

Information from HM Nautical Almanac Office:
http://asa.hmnao.com/cgi-bin/occnwdo.cgi?dir=2022/occns&file=occn.2022Dec08.Mars&body=Mars

#OccultationOfMars
#MarsOccultation