Moon occultation of Mars tonight

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the observation of the Moon occulting Mars on the night of July 5th. Participants share their experiences and observations of this astronomical event, noting its visibility from different locations, particularly in relation to latitude.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Observational

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes a clear view of the quarter moon and Mars, noting their proximity and the surprise of the event.
  • Another participant confirms a similar experience, expressing amazement at the closeness of Mars to the Moon.
  • A participant mentions that the visibility of Mars was more pronounced at lower latitudes, suggesting a difference in observation based on geographic location.
  • There is a request for photos of the event from other participants.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the occurrence of the Moon occulting Mars and share similar observational experiences. However, there is a recognition of differing visibility based on latitude, indicating some variation in perspectives.

Contextual Notes

Participants do not provide detailed information on the specific conditions affecting visibility, such as atmospheric conditions or exact timing of the occultation.

Who May Find This Useful

Astronomy enthusiasts, amateur astronomers, and individuals interested in celestial events may find this discussion relevant.

Creator
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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.
 
Last edited:
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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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