Posted on Dec 15, 2022
APOD: 2022 December 15 - Full Moon, Full Mars
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Good morning, Rallypoint, and welcome to the December 15th edition of Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Full Moon, Full Mars." A 'lunar occultation' occurs when the view of a celestial object from Earth is blocked by the Moon. And both the Moon and planet Mars were in 'opposition' (directly opposite the Sun when viewed from Earth) when this sequence of images was captured a week ago (on December 8th). Best viewing would have been in the western US, but it was also nice and clear where these photos were taken (in Slovakia).
An 'occultation in opposition' is somewhat of an astronomical two-fer. The next Martian opposition will occur in January 2025. On top of that, Mars just reached perihelion, or its closest point to Earth in its orbit, a week ago, meaning it's still relatively close by (about 51 million miles away).
There will be two more occultations of Mars next month (Jan 2023). On January 3rd, you'll need to be in South Africa to see it. But on January 30th, it will be visible from the US Gulf Coast and across the southwest (e.g. Arizona, New Mexico, etc).
An 'occultation in opposition' is somewhat of an astronomical two-fer. The next Martian opposition will occur in January 2025. On top of that, Mars just reached perihelion, or its closest point to Earth in its orbit, a week ago, meaning it's still relatively close by (about 51 million miles away).
There will be two more occultations of Mars next month (Jan 2023). On January 3rd, you'll need to be in South Africa to see it. But on January 30th, it will be visible from the US Gulf Coast and across the southwest (e.g. Arizona, New Mexico, etc).
APOD: 2022 December 15 - Full Moon, Full Mars
Posted from apod.nasa.gov
Posted >1 y ago
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Posted >1 y ago
Maj William W. 'Bill' Price good morning my friend, and good to see you on the RP net December 15, 2022 . I have said it many times before, yet I will say it again, "nobody does it better from above". Thank you for sharing Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): "Full Moon, Full Mars."
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace CPL LaForest Gray SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland SGT Jim Arnold Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada Lt Col Charlie Brown 1SG Paul Ayotte
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT (Join to see)] Sgt (Join to see) A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace CPL LaForest Gray SFC David Reid, M.S, PHR, SHRM-CP, DTM PV2 Larry Sellnow SPC Gary C. SPC (Join to see) SGT Steve McFarland SGT Jim Arnold Amn Dale Preisach SGT Ruben Lozada Lt Col Charlie Brown 1SG Paul Ayotte
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Posted >1 y ago
Visible if the weather cooperates! Doesn't seem to be doing that much lately Maj William W. 'Bill' Price
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