A rare celestial event is about to unfold in the night sky on Monday, Jan. 13. The rising full moon will pass in front of Mars, causing a temporary disappearance and reappearance of the Red Planet.
On this evening, Mars will be at its closest point to Earth, appearing as an orange disk against the stars of Gemini. However, the moon’s brightness will make it challenging to spot Mars with the naked eye, requiring binoculars or a telescope for better views.
If you’re patient and willing to observe the event in real-time, you can witness the “occultation” – a moment when the moon appears to cover the sun-like disk of Mars. The timing of this event varies depending on your location within North America.
For stargazers on the West Coast, the occultation will occur at around 5:49 p.m. PST. In Denver, it’s set for 6:57 p.m. MST. From Chicago, watch for the planet to disappear around 8:07 p.m. CST, while in New York City, Mars will vanish at around 9:21 p.m. EST.
What makes this event even more fascinating is that the moon will reappear on the opposite side of Mars, creating another temporary disappearance and reappearance of the Red Planet. However, spotting this secondary event can be tricky due to its fast occurrence.
To accurately plan your observation, call your local planetarium or observatory for precise timing information. Begin observing at least 15 minutes before the scheduled event to ensure you don’t miss either occurrence.
Source: https://www.noozhawk.com/dennis-mammana-moon-plays-cosmic-hide-and-seek-with-mars-in-rare-january-sky-show