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January is set to showcase a plethora of celestial wonders, including the occasion when Mars arrives at its nearest point to Earth. Here’s what awaits this month.
If you overlooked the debut “What’s up in the sky?” monthly feature at the beginning of the month, here’s a prompt to ensure you keep your gaze skyward in the coming days for some cosmic treasures you won’t want to miss.
On Sunday, Mars was at its closest to Earth at 9 a.m. EST with a distance of 59,703,891 miles — or just five light minutes. Mars ascends in the east during twilight and is simple to identify due to its brilliance and unique hue.
On the evening of Jan. 13, we will experience the highlight of the month, as the full wolf moon occults (obscures) Mars.
Review the list to find the nearest city to your area. Be outside prior to the designated time. Binoculars and telescopes will enhance this experience.
For Washington, D.C., Mars vanishes at 9:16 p.m. and reappears at 10:30 p.m. As for me, I’ll be stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, where I will observe a very close pairing. Try to capture an astropic of the event using your smartphone or camera zoom lens.
The full wolf moon is luminous, but Mars is equally bright.
Lastly, on the evening of Jan. 15, Mars will be at opposition appearing in the eastern sky at dusk and remaining visible throughout the night. It will maintain its brightness in our sky all month.
Wishing clear skies for the DMV!
Keep up with Greg Redfern on Facebook, Bluesky and his daily blog to stay informed about the latest happenings in astronomy and space exploration.
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