Rare Lunar Occultation of Mars Captivates Skywatchers

The Wolf Moon briefly obscured Mars in a celestial event visible across parts of North America, Africa, and Mexico.

The full Wolf Moon passed in front of Mars on January 13, 2025, in a rare astronomical event called a lunar occultation.
Observers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and parts of Africa witnessed Mars disappear and reappear over the course of an hour.
The occultation coincided with Mars nearing opposition, making it appear brighter and closer to Earth than at any time since 2022.
This alignment, visible with the naked eye or telescopes, marked the only lunar occultation of Mars visible in the U.S. until 2042.
The event highlighted Mars' prominence in the night sky, with its reddish glow contrasting against the brightness of the full moon.