On this night, the Moon will pass incredibly close to Mars, creating a lunar occultation — a fascinating event where the Moon temporarily hides the Red Planet from view.
What’s happening?
Where to watch:
How to watch:
Why this matters:Today's rare event is called the lunar occultation of Mars—a rare and mesmerizing event where the Moon passes in front of Mars, temporarily covering most or all of it from view. This particular event occurred today, July 28, 2025, making it a striking celestial moment for many observers. YouTube+10Facebook+10Daily Galaxy+10. Here's what my AI search says of this event.
🌓 What’s Happening
On July 28, a waxing crescent Moon (about 19% illuminated) rose in the west not long after sunset and drifted very close to Mars—within approximately 1°, or the width of your little finger at arm’s length. EarthSky+3Live Science+3When the Curves Line Up+3
In some places around the globe (particularly parts of the Americas, and certain regions in Africa and Antarctica), the Moon passed directly in front of Mars, causing a brief occultation where Mars disappeared behind the lunar limb and later re-emerged. Orbital Today
🗺 Where and When It Was Visible
Occultation Visibility: Only visible from a narrow strip of locations, including western South America, western Africa, and southern polar regions. In-The-Sky.orgLinkedIn
Conjunction (Close Pass): From most places worldwide, including North America and Europe, the Moon and Mars appeared to pass in very close proximity—no covering, but a stunning near‑contact. When the Curves Line Up+14Live Science+14Orbital Today+14
From your perspective (Calif. / Walnut Creek), this event would have appeared as a striking conjunction—Mars close to the Moon, but not fully covered. EarthSkySpace
✨ Viewing Details & Tips
Timing: About 45 minutes after sunset, both Mars and the crescent Moon rose high enough over the western horizon to be easily seen together. Orbital Today+13Live Science+13Facebook+13
What to Look For:
Mars as a bright reddish “star”—easy to spot even without magnification.
Earthshine on the Moon—a faint, ghostly glow on the dark side lit by sunlight reflecting off Earth. Orbital Today+6EarthSky+6RASC Hamilton+6
Best Tools: Lightweight gear like 10×50 binoculars or a small telescope can capture the subtle lunar features and Mars’s disappearance/reappearance if in the right location. SpaceIn-The-Sky.org
🌌 Why It’s Special
Lunar occultations of bright planets like Mars are relatively rare—they depend on precise orbital alignments and visibility from specific regions on Earth. In-The-Sky.org+8In-The-Sky.org+8RASC Hamilton+8
Occurring near Mars opposition (when Mars is closest to Earth), the planet is exceptionally bright, making the visual impact greater. Live ScienceHigh Point Scientific
For those in the occultation path, it’s a true slow‑motion eclipse—a planet vanishing behind the Moon and reappearing minutes later.
🔭 Summary at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Lunar occultation (Moon covering Mars) or very close conjunction |
| Date | July 28, 2025 |
| Moon phase | ~19% waxing crescent |
| Visibility | Conjunction visible widely; occultation only from certain regions |
| View from Walnut Creek | Close conjunction; likely no full occultation |
| Equipment | Naked eye, binoculars or small telescope for best detail |
| Notable effect | Earthshine visible on Moon’s dark si |
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