Everyone in Northern Ireland will be able to see a fairly rare event early on the Thursday morning, if the sky is clear.
The Full Moon will pass directly in front of Mars, an event called an occultation from the Latin word occult, meaning hidden.
Mars appears like a very bright red star and is very prominent high up in the sky later in these evenings, as it is now at "opposition", or opposite to the Sun in the sky, and at its closest to the Earth for the year.
Read more: Yellow weather warning issued for NI as temperatures drop
Even with the unaided eye, you’ll be able to watch the bright Full Moon creep ever closer to Mars, although as it gets very close, it may be difficult to see Mars beside the very bright Moon.
But if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you will get a spectacular view!
Mars will start to disappear behind the Moon at about 04.50, and it will remain hidden behind the Moon until about 05.50.
Those times will vary slightly depending on your location in Northern Ireland – the further west you are, the earlier it will happen. So start looking no later than about 04.45 to be safe.
It will take the Moon 35 seconds to fully cover the disc of Mars, and the same amount of time for it to completely reappear on the other side of the Moon.
You can try photographing it with a smartphone camera held to the eyepiece of a telescope, but success is not guaranteed. You won’t get another chance for 17 years, so don’t miss this unique opportunity!
Apostolos Christou, a Research Astronomer at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, told Belfast Live: “Mars is set to disappear behind the Moon for one hour this coming Thursday morning. People who are out and about at 6am will be able to see an amber-coloured Mars next to the Moon.
“However, the Moon will be almost in its full phase, which isn’t ideal for viewing this phenomenon. Visibility is generally best with a crescent or gibbous phase, which allows you to see the planet emerge from behind the Moon's night side.
“Occultations by planets by the Moon are not particularly rare, with two or three occurring every year as the Moon completes its monthly round of the ecliptic, that is a line in the sky where most of the planets are moving.
"The size of the Moon in the sky is about half a degree and, as the monthly cycle does not repeat itself exactly, sometimes a planet gets close enough to be hidden by our natural satellite.
"There is little scientific significance to this event, though ancient records of solar eclipses - in effect, an occultation of the Sun by the Moon - can be used to date significant milestones in world history.
"Much rarer are occultations of planets by other planets. In 1818, Venus appeared to transit in front of the planet Jupiter, and this will happen again in the year 2065.”
READ NEXT:
No plans to close NI schools despite soaring Strep A and scarlet fever cases
NI winter service team 'ready for snow and ice' with specialist equipment
Northern Ireland weather: Forecast for week ahead as snow expected in NI
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here. To sign up to our FREE newsletters, see here.
