It’s called an occultation, but what that means is the planet Mars will be playing peek-a-boo. Backyard Astronomer Gary Boyle explains.
Boyle says Mars will disappear from your field of vision to the left of the moon, and emerge just shy of an hour later, on the right of the moon.
The Backyard Astronomer says don’t get confused- we’re not talking about the Red Planet covering the moon.
Boyle says if you want to reassure yourself everything in the heavens is proceeding according to plan, this is the proper time of the year to be a Mars-watcher.
The December 7 occultation will be seen over most of North America except Florida and adjacent U.S. states
Any cell phone app should capture the disappearance if the skies are clear.
By Rick Stow
