Dark Sky Event: Mars-Moon Lunar Occulation

Will host public telescope viewing opportunity.

Telescopes and binoculars available for public use of this event and other night sky sights. Weather permitting. Bring a blanket and jacket.

In the evening on December 7th, Mars will be eclipsed by the Moon, visible to a good portion of the United States. This means that starting at about 6:30pm PST on the West Coast, Mars will disappear behind the Moon and reappear about an hour later from behind the limb. Look to the eastern horizon just after sunset to see the Moon and Mars close together before the occultation starts.

On the night of December 7th the Moon will be fully illuminated, and thus very bright. But in binoculars or a telescope you should still be able to clearly glimpse the tiny disc of the Red Planet as it approaches the Moon's limb. Mars, which reaches opposition on December 8th (positioned directly opposite the Sun from Earth), will itself be fairly bright (for Mars) at magnitude -1.9.