January Night Sky

Depending-upon where you live the close of the January night sky delivers an occultation.  

On January 30 and 31 the moon and Mars are going to have a close encounter in the early morning hours beginning on the 30th.

This last happened in December; and again the moon will pass in front of the red planet.  Astronomers call this event an occultation.  The moon is said to occult Mars - eclipsing (covering) it.

My location here on the peninsula places me considerably far north to witness the eclipse of Mars by the moon.  Nevertheless, it will be a VERY close encounter.  A near miss....