Moon will Occult Mars – unaided eye astronomy #astronomy #citizenscientist

I’m just getting this out in time! The Moon will occult Mars on December 8, 2022, and most of the USA, Canada, and western Europe will see it, weather permitting. Wednesday, 07 Dec 2022 at 21:13 MST (04:13 UTC). There are many articles if you search the internet.

[Described from Washington State.] It will begin with the disappearance of Mars behind the Moon at 19:35 MST in the eastern sky at an altitude of 28.5 degrees. Its reappearance will be visible at 20:40 MST at an altitude of 41.4 degrees. in-the-sky

The Moon won’t be hard to find, and Mars looks like a bright reddish star, so you’ll need no fancy equipment or special training.

What does this event mean? Well, nothing, really. Planets and moons in our solar system all orbit, roughly but not exactly, in the same plane around the Sun. From Earth’s vantage point, they move through groups of stars we call the zodiac, and sometimes they appear to be very close or one may obscure another. That’s an optical effect, like when someone walks in front of the TV when you’re trying to watch. Their movement doesn’t effect the TV in any way, or Mars, in the case of this occultation.

I enjoy star gazing with my unaided eye. Laying out on the deck, wrapped in a blanket, waiting for meteors to flash by, keeping track of planets and phases of the Moon, and even spotting satellites. Hardly the cutting edge of science, but satisfying. Enjoyable. Fun. A very special occultation is a total solar eclipse, and I’ve traveled three times in my life to observe one. Outstanding.

The event also brings two of my science fiction book series together: Winnie Bravo, Space Pilot chases a mysterious probe around the Moon, and Colony on Mars explores a near-future settlement on the Red Planet. Check them out along with my other books on my web site: Click here to go to Kate Rauner Author