Mars is in opposition this week.
getty
Every Monday I pick the Northern Hemisphere (mid-northern latitudes) celestial highlights for the week ahead, but be sure to check out my main channel for more in-depth articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses and much more.
What you can see in the night sky this week: December 5-11, 2022
This week sees the fourth planet Mars in opposition, which happens every 26 months when Earth passes through the red planet. It means Mars will be bigger, brighter and better as it rises in the east after dark, as you may have noticed over the past few weeks.
However, what happens this week is particularly strange because just as Mars reaches its opposition, the Moon will briefly obscure it. What a view! It’s one of the stargazing highlights of the year, but there are a few other Moon-related sights to look for this week.
Tuesday, December 6, 2022: The Moon in Taurus
Stellarium
Tuesday, December 6, 2022: The Moon in Taurus
Look high in the eastern night sky after sunset tonight and you’ll see a 99% illuminated waxing gibbous Moon in the constellation Taurus. On either side, you’ll see the bright Pleiades and the wider Hyades star cluster.
Wednesday, December 7, 2022: A full “Cold Moon” obscures Mars at opposition
Stellarium
Wednesday, December 7, 2022: A full ‘Cold Moon’ obscures Mars at North American opposition
Here come two celestial events at once! December’s Full Moon rising is always a magical event, but the icing on the cake for those in northern and western North America and across Europe is that the Full Moon will be occulting (moving in front of) Mars.
The Moon will cover Mars for viewers in much of North America, northern Mexico and most of the… [+] Europe as well as North Africa. In North America, the view will unfold in the afternoon of December 7, while it will be a pre-dawn spectacle for those in Europe and North Africa on December 8.
Gregg Dinderman / Sky and Telescope
Thursday, December 8, 2022: A full ‘Cold Moon’ obscures Mars at opposition from Europa
As seen from Europe, the Moon will move in front of the red planet in the western sky on Thursday, December 8, 2022. From London, Mars will disappear at 04:58 GMT and reappear at 05:59 GMT.
Saturday December 10, 2022: Moon in Gemini
Stellarium
Saturday December 10, 2022: Moon in Gemini
As the waning gibbous Moon rises tonight, it will be 92% illuminated. Look to the northeast and you’ll see it appear with the two main bright stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux.
Object of the week: Mars
This week sees the fourth planet Mars in opposition, which happens every 26 months when Earth passes through the red planet. It means Mars will be bigger, brighter and better as it rises in the east after dark, as you may have noticed over the past few weeks.
It’s the perfect time to put a small telescope on the red planet to catch a glimpse of its redness and, if you’re lucky, its polar caps.
I wish you clear skies and wide eyes.