
What you need to know
On Monday, January 13th, 2025, there will be a Lunar Occultation of Mars. During this celestial event, our Moon will eclipse Mars, completely blocking it from view.
When Can YOU View this Event?
The upcoming Lunar Occultation of Mars will begin on Monday, January 13th (for most viewers), with the total event lasting for approximately 1 hour. The total duration of the occultation, as well as the angle of approach and retreat, will differ depending on your location.
This event is of particular interest as it will occur just before Mars reaches opposition, the point where it is closest to Earth. This means the Mars will appear larger and brighter than average, making it an ideal opportunity to capture a stunning photo, video, or timelapse of Mars and the Moon.

Credit: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
Viewing Chart
Check out the chart below to see what time this event will be visible in your time zone!
Please note: This event will occur at slightly different times depending on your latitude and longitude. The chart below lists the times for the nearest major city with each time zone. For exact times, use a celestial simulator like Stellarium. Additionally, the following event times are set to to a 24hr clock, which is useful for tracking planets and other celestial bodies. This standard is especially important for those using Celestron NexStar+ and Star Sense Hand Controllers or other astrophotography equipment.
Time Zones |
---|
Approach |
Occultation Begins |
Occultation Ends |
Retreat |
Seattle (UTC-8) |
Tucson (UTC-7) |
Denver (UTC-7) |
Chicago (UTC-6) |
NYC (UTC-5) |
Hamilton (UTC-4) |
St. John's (UTC-3.5) |
Praia (UTC-1) |
Senegal (UTC) |
Lagos (UTC+1) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jan. 13th 18:21:36 |
Jan. 13th 18:47:17 |
Jan. 13th 18:56:05 |
Jan. 13th 20:06:30 |
Jan. 13th 21:19:58 |
Jan. 13th 22:39:56 |
Jan. 13th 23:27:14 |
Jan. 14th 03:25:56 |
Jan. 14th 04:33:18 |
Jan. 14th 05:52:18 |
Jan. 13th 18:23:08 |
Jan. 13th 18:48:17 |
Jan. 13th 18:57:05 |
Jan. 13th 20:07:30 |
Jan. 13th 21:20:58 |
Jan. 13th 22:40:56 |
Jan. 13th 23:28:14 |
Jan. 14th 03:26:56 |
Jan. 14th 04:34:18 |
Jan. 14th 05:53:18 |
Jan. 13th 18:37:44 |
Jan. 13th 19:46:29 |
Jan. 13th 19:55:51 |
Jan. 13th 21:15:33 |
Jan. 13th 22:35:56 |
Jan. 13th 23:47:32 |
Jan. 14th 00:34:56 |
Jan. 14th 04:29:39 |
Jan. 14th 05:38:32 |
Jan. 14th 06:48:50 |
Jan. 13th 18:39:16 |
Jan. 13th 19:47:29 |
Jan. 13th 19:56:51 |
Jan. 13th 21:15:33 |
Jan. 13th 22:36:56 |
Jan. 13th 23:48:32 |
Jan. 14th 00:35:56 |
Jan. 14th 04:30:39 |
Jan. 14th 05:39:32 |
Jan. 14th 06:49:50 |
What will the Moon and Mars look like?
During the Lunar Occultation of Mars, the Moon eclipses Mars, causing it to disappear from view. Since Mar's is many millions of miles further from us than our Moon, it appears many times smaller. So, when the Moon passes between Mars and Earth, it blocks Mars from view. If viewed with a pair of binoculars or telescope, you can see Mars gradually move behind the Moon, then reappear on the other side approximately an hour later.
Lunar photographers and astrophotographers should take note of this event as it will be an excellent chance to capture a stunning photo or timelapse of a uncommon celestial event! If you want to learn more about photographing the Moon and the planets, check out our Planetary Imaging Guide and Lunar Imaging Guide.
Learn More About the Universe!
What is a lunar occultation, and how often do they occur? If you want to know the answers to these questions and more, dive into our AstronomyHub! Our AstronomyHub is constantly growing with more articles, guides, and so much more! Check out a curated list of our best Lunar Eclipse Articles below!
2025 Astronomical Calendar |
How to Observe Mars |
8 Things You Need to Know About the Planets In Our Solar System |
How to Predict the Phases of the Moon |
Click the arrow above to see MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style citations.
MLA:
Daniel Burchett. "Night Sky Alert: Lunar Occultation of Mars," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, 13 Jan. 2025, https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/lunar-occultation-of-mars-january-2025
APA:
Burchett, D. (2025, January 6). Night Sky Alert: Lunar Occultation of Mars. High Point Scientific. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/lunar-occultation-of-mars-january-2025
Chicago Manual of Style:
Bibliography:
Daniel Burchett "Night Sky Alert: Lunar Occultation of Mars," AstronomyHub (blog), High Point Scientific, January 13th, 2025. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/lunar-occultation-of-mars-january-2025
Footnote:
Daniel Burchett "Night Sky Alert: Lunar Occultation of Mars," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, January 13th, 2025, https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/lunar-occultation-of-mars-january-2025

Learn More
Interested in diving deeper into the world of astronomy and astrophotography? Not sure where to begin? Check out our Astronomy Hub!