Wednesday will be a “magical” night in the star realms as four celestial events occur in the skies.
The day will conclude with the first sunset of the year, with the opposition of Mars, and the rare event in which the full moon in December, known as the “cold moon”, temporarily pushes Mars away.
According to NASA, the sun will set before 4:45 p.m. EST on Wednesday and sunset will end at 5:49 p.m. EST. While it will bring early darkness, it will also set the stage for a beautiful starry night. In addition to the full moon, viewers will be able to observe several planets in close proximity to their light: Jupiter, Saturn and Mars, the last of which will face directly at the sun, an event known as Martian opposition.
The full moon on Wednesday is called cold month Because of the “long, cold nights” that winter brings, according to NASA, citing the Maine Farmer’s Almanac. It is also known as Frozen Moon and Winter Moon in the calendar, as well as Yule Month and Oak Moon in Europe.
But the main event isn’t just the moon itself. With Mars the closest and brightest sighting this year, NASA says the moon will gradually get closer to the red planet. In some areas of the world, the moon will appear to block the view of Mars, an event known as a full moon hide.
“December 7 presents one of those magical moments when the sky changes dramatically before your eyes,” NASA said in a video highlighting the sky observations.
Parts of North America, Europe and North Africa will be able to see the unseen, NASA said, while those on the southeast and east coast of the United States will see the Moon “skim next to Mars.”
The viewing should last about an hour for most people. NASA says people in Minneapolis will see Mars disappear around 9:03 PM CST and reappear around 10:11 PM, while people in Los Angeles will be able to watch the phenomenon between 6:31 PM PST and 7:31 PM PST. The moon will reach its highest point at 11:08 pm EDT.
NASA said the event presented a “relatively rare opportunity to see a bright planet obscured by the moon.”
“The moon passes the planets in the night sky several times a year. In fact, it generally outshines Mars at least twice a year,” NASA said. “But each occultation is only visible from a small part of Earth’s surface, so it’s not uncommon for a certain place on Earth to see them so often.”
For those outside the areas where unseen views are possible or who may not experience clear skies during a celestial event, a live stream is available to watch in real time. Here’s how you can watch (all times listed below are EST):
- It Virtual Telescope Project 2.0 You will have your notes online starting at 11pm
- The University of Texas will host the McDonald Observatory in Austin along with Flagstaff, the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. Live broadcast Starting at 21:00
- Southern California Griffith Observatory It will have a live broadcast from 9pm
- Carnegie astronomer Live broadcast It will start at 21:15
