Mars, which has been getting brighter within the evening sky, will likely be briefly blocked out on Monday night by the total moon — an occasion often known as a lunar occultation.
Within the Bay Space, the conjunction will start round 6 p.m., shortly after each Mars and the moon seem above the horizon to the east-northeast. About 40 minutes later, Mars will emerge from behind the moon. (The evening sky simulator at TimeandDate.com provides a preview.)
Mars options in two different astronomical occasions this month:
• On Wednesday, Jan. 15, it should attain opposition, showing reverse the solar when seen from Earth round sundown. Partly due to its proximity to Earth and partly due to its place relative to the solar, Mars will seem abnormally brilliant, like an enormous red-tinged star.
• For the remainder of the month, it’s one in every of six planets in a “parade” — Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus will line up in an arc throughout the sky. The final two will likely be more durable to see, however the larger 4 will likely be seen to the bare eye, Venus and Saturn to the southwest, Jupiter overhead and Mars to the east.
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