Mars and the Moon meet in the sky tonight, as the red planet has been approaching its closest point to Earth for years
- Mars and the Moon meet starting at 11:35 PM ET on Friday
- The Earth is preparing to pass between Mars and the Sun to bring the planets closer
- Those who live in South America will see the moon and Mars lining up for a mysterious one
- This month also brings the Blue Moon and Orinoid meteor showers
Mars and the Moon are slated to make a show tonight that it’s out of this world.
The red planet is making its closest approach to Earth and when the lunar orb rises, the two will appear to be hanging close to each other in the night sky.
The pairing begins at 11:35 PM ET on Friday, October 2, with the closest approach seen shortly after midnight.
They will both appear in the east, but then move west as the night progresses and at around 2 a.m. ET, the pair will reach their highest points in the southern sky.
Scroll down for the video
Mars and the Moon are slated to make a show tonight that it’s out of this world. The red planet is making its closest approach to Earth and when the lunar orb rises, the two will appear to be hanging close to each other in the night sky.
to me EarthSkyThose who live in the southernmost region of the world will see the moon closest to Mars.
Those who live in South America will witness the mysterious moon, or cover Mars for some Friday night and every Saturday night.
The reason for the meeting of Mars and the Moon is due to the Earth’s preparation to forge its way between the red planet and the sun on October 13th.
Mars and Earth come close to each other every two years.
The pairing begins at 11:35 PM ET on Friday, October 2, with the closest approach seen shortly after midnight. In the photo, an event was taken in 2003. A powerful telescope managed to capture an image of the surface of the moon and Mars hanging near it
This is because Mars orbits the Sun every 26 months, compared to Earth 12 months – but the distance between them varies each time.
This leads Mars into opposition “ once every two years in our sky, according to EarthSky reports, and will arrive in opposition on October 14th.
The brightness that Mars gives will not be seen for another 15 years.
October is full of cosmic wonders, as stargazers prepare to relish this month when hundreds of photographic stars light up the sky during the Orionid meteor shower.
These meteorites sprinkle across the sky every October, from November 2 to 7 – but the peak sightings are expected on the morning of October 21.
This cosmic event occurs when Earth passes through a stream of debris left by Comet Halley – the main comet of the Orionid shower.
October is full of cosmic wonders, as stargazers prepare to relish this month when hundreds of photographic stars light up the sky during the Orionid meteor shower. These meteorites sneak across the sky every October, from November 2 to 7 – but the peak sightings are expected on the morning of October 21.
Astronomers have noted that meteorites can move at a speed of 148,000 miles per hour in the atmosphere, but they leave gaseous traces in the sky that last for a few seconds.
NASA considers the Orionids to be one of the most beautiful showers of the year, which can be seen in the northern and southern hemispheres after midnight.
This month also brings a rare blue moon that will be visible in all time zones.
Our lunar neighbor will not shine blue, but the name is given because it is the second full moon to appear in the same month – the first occurs on October 1.
The cosmic parade occurs seven times every 19 years, which means that the world won’t see the next show on October 31 until 2039.
What makes this event even rarer is that it will be seen worldwide for the first time since World War II.
People in North and South America will have a glimpse of a blue moon, along with those in India, Europe and Asia.
“Music specialist. Pop culture trailblazer. Problem solver. Internet advocate.”
