What is called an occultation will happen around 9 p.m. during the evening of January 13.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The full moon on this Monday, Jan. 13 will also be joined by the fourth rock from the sun, Mars. The two will do something called an occultation, which is when the moon obscures a celestial body such as a planet.
While the entire process of the occultation lasts between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., the main event is around 9 p.m. in the Carolinas.Â
Mars is two days away from being directly opposite the sun. That position is called opposition. With Mars so close to opposition, and the moon being full, that means both Mars and the Moon will be shining bright on Monday night.Â
The brightest of Mars is expected to disappear just as the Moon blocks our view of the planet for about an hour and 15 minutes.Â
In some ways, the event is similar to a solar eclipse, when the moon blocks out the sun. Except in this case, the moon is blocking out Mars, which by comparison, is much smaller – and less dramatic – than the sun disappearing.
These occultations happen throughout the year but this one is special because it is during a full moon – and the Wolf Moon is the first full moon of 2025.Â
