Mars Reappears Behind Full Moon in Rare Cosmic Event

A rare celestial event brought Mars into view Monday night as it passed behind the full Moon, visible across most of North America and parts of Africa. A quick camera snap captured the moment, showing Mars appearing just above large craters at the edge of the Moon’s curved limb.

The red planet is about 250 times more distant than the Moon, with a current distance of approximately 60 million miles (96 million kilometers). This event occurs once every 26 months, and it marks an ideal launch window for spacecraft traveling to Mars. The next opposition will take place on Wednesday night, offering a rare glimpse at the planet.

Source: https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/01/there-was-a-straight-shot-from-earth-to-the-moon-and-mars-last-night