Moon occultation of Mars tonight

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SUMMARY

On July 5th at 9 PM Central Time, observers in the central United States witnessed a stunning view of the quarter moon alongside Mars, located approximately 15 arc minutes from the moon's edge. This event, known as a Mars occultation, was particularly pronounced for viewers in southern latitudes, where the proximity of Mars to the moon was more visible. The discussion highlighted the clear skies and the surprise of spotting Mars, prompting participants to share their experiences and inquire about photographs of the event.

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  • Understanding of celestial events, specifically occultations
  • Familiarity with astronomical terms such as arc minutes
  • Basic knowledge of observational astronomy techniques
  • Experience with using binoculars for stargazing
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  • Research the phenomenon of Mars occultation and its visibility across different latitudes
  • Learn about the use of binoculars for astronomical observations
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Astronomy enthusiasts, stargazers, and photographers interested in celestial events, particularly those observing planetary movements and occultations.

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Tonight; July 5th, 9 pm central time.
I just happened to look up and catch a gorgeous view (perfectly clear) of the quarter moon with a tiny "star" just barely visible above the terminator about 1/4 moon diameter, grabbed my binoculars, then googled it, and realized it was Mars sitting about 15 arc minutes off the edge. What a surprise; I am at 30* N. Latitude (central US).
I haven't been following observationally lately...Apparently a Mars occultation will be visible tonight from South America.
In my location it appeared like the "Miami" "Photo" here: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-news/observing-news/two-planet-moon-conjunctions-in-july/
...except the planet brightness appears dimmer than in the mock photo.
Check it out if you're on planet Earth tonight.
Nice.
Creator.
 
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Yeah, I did the same thing you did, Creator. Looked up and said, "Wow, that star is really close to the moon". Then I looked it up and saw it was Mars.
 
Thanks, Drakkith;
You must also be in southern latitude...the close proximity of Mars was more pronounced at lower latitudes.
..
 
I'm at about 30 degrees north in latitude.
 

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