Grab your stargazing binoculars, because tonight (Jan. 13), Mars will vanish behind the moon for several hours in an astronomical event called a lunar occultation.
Coincidentally, the lunar occultation of Mars also happens when the Red Planet enters opposition — that is, when Mars is directly opposite the sun in Earth's sky — meaning Mars will be at its biggest and brightest as it nears its closest point to Earth. This is the only lunar occultation of Mars that's visible from the United States in 2025, so you won't want to miss this rare event.
