The first full moon of 2025, known as the Wolf Moon, briefly eclipsed the planet Mars on Monday, Jan. 13, blocking its view for around an hour in North America. This rare event, called an occultation, occurred as Mars reached its closest point to Earth since December 2022.
Mars will be at opposition on Wednesday, Jan. 15, which occurs once every 26 months, allowing the entire planet to be illuminated by the sun. The Wolf Moon’s appearance was enhanced during the occultation, making Mars appear brighter than it has in over a year. However, despite its brightness, Mars was still outshone by Venus, visible in the southwest.
The illusion created by the moon crossing the ecliptic path to hide Mars from view made it seem as though the planet had vanished. The distance between Earth and Mars at the time of the event was roughly 266 times greater than that of the moon.
Mars will remain a prominent feature in the night sky throughout January and February, despite its far distance. The next full moon, the Snow Moon, will occur on Feb. 12.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2025/01/14/in-photos-mars-devoured-by-wolf-moon-in-stunning-sight-for-us-sky-watchers