Look Up! Mars Will Put on a Dazzling Show within the Night Sky Tonight

December has been an thrilling month for stargazers, from the complete Cold Moon reaching a serious lunar standstill to the strongest meteor bathe of the yr. Now, Mars will seem near the moon within the evening sky on Tuesday, December 17 because it continues its strategy to opposition, in accordance with NASA.

Mars, often known as the “Red Planet,” is thought for its vivid, red-orange look. On Tuesday night, focus your gaze on the east-northern horizon to identify the waning gibbous moon with the brilliant and colourful Mars straight beneath it. The planet will seem nearer to the moon than normal.

Mars reaches opposition about as soon as each two years when it lies reverse to the solar. As it approaches opposition it seems brighter within the evening sky. Mars has been comparatively faint for many of 2024, however has been steadily turning into brighter because it races in direction of opposition, which is predicted to happen on the night of January 15, in accordance with EarthSky.org.

The closest Mars will get to the moon throughout its strategy to opposition happens on Tuesday, December 17. For these on the West Coast, the moon and Mars will look closest simply after midnight PST within the east-southeast sky. If you are on the East Coast, the closest proximity of the moon and Mars happens round 5 a.m. EST within the west-northwest, Space.com experiences. However, telescopic views of Mars will grow to be attainable as early as 10:30 p.m. native time.