If you are having a look up on the Moon this night, 9 February 2025, you might be in for a deal with, because the Purple Planet Mars will likely be sitting slightly below a nearly-full Moon, making for a super naked-eye spectacle.
That is without a doubt one of the crucial naked-eye stargazing highlights of the month, with the Purple Planet skimming slightly below the southern fringe of the Moon.
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When you head out and glance up on the Moon each and every night time – climate allowing – you’ll be able to understand that the Moon adjustments place, relative to the remainder of the night time sky.
Throughout the process per week, the celebrities and planets are in large part in the similar position on the identical time each night time, however the Moon adjustments place fairly significantly, monitoring eastwards.
And so, the Moon’s per thirty days motion across the sky ceaselessly takes it on the subject of each and every planet.
On Sunday 9 February 2025, Mars and the Moon will likely be very shut.
After all, that is all a question of standpoint and the way we see items within the night time sky from Earth.
Mars is not in reality on the subject of the Moon: it simply seems as even though it’s.
Mars seems 4.8 arcminutes south of the Moon’s southern edge (as observed from the centre of the United Kingdom) at 18:57 UT within the night time of 9 February. Credit score: Pete Lawrence
In sensible astronomy parlance, Mars sits 20 arcminutes south of the Moon’s centre at 18:57 UT, striking it 4.8 arcminutes from the Moon’s southern limb right now.
Which means that, if you are taking pictures a picture of Mars and the Moon in combination this night time, you are able to get each lunar element and Mars in the similar body.
Despite the fact that no longer as dramatic as a lunar occultation of Mars – when Mars disappears in the back of the Moon solely – the 9 February alignment gives a thrilling alternative to get some nice photographs of the Moon’s edge and the planet’s disc.
At 18:50 UT on 9 February 2025, Mars seems simply 4 arcminutes south of the Moon’s southern edge Thi is how it’s going to seem via binoculars. Credit score: Pete Lawrence
Looking at the development
Mars continues to be slightly huge, because of having been at opposition in January 2025. This implies Mars will seem round 12 arcseconds throughout.
And the Moon is huge and vibrant, too. It is simply days clear of complete Moon on 12 February, which this month is referred to as the Snow Moon.
After all, imaging isn’t the one means of taking part in the sort of view, and a telescope with a low- to mid-power eyepiece will have to come up with a shocking visible of the stumble upon.
You’ll get a excellent view of Mars and the Moon via binoculars, too.
Lunar parallax – the plain shift of the Moon’s place relying at the location from which you’re viewing it – will have an impact.
The ones additional to the north of the United Kingdom will see the separation scale back, whilst the ones residing in southern portions of the rustic will see somewhat higher separation.
If truth be told, in case you occur to be staring at Mars and the Moon from portions of northern Scandinavia and Iceland on 9 February 2025, you’ll see a lunar occultation of Mars, the place the Purple Planet will in reality disappear in the back of the Moon.
When you practice or {photograph} Mars close to the Moon on 9 February 2025 – particularly if you are fortunate sufficient to look the lunar occultation – get in contact and tell us by means of emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
