Lunar Occultation of Mars Broadcast – December 7, 2022
Live online broadcast from Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA | December 7, 2022
On the evening of December 7, there will be a lunar occultation of Mars by the Moon visible from Los Angeles.
Griffith Observatory is hosting an online broadcast of the occultation of Mars by the Moon on December 7, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m., PST. The Observatory will stream the occultation live online, weather permitting.
NOTE: If skies are clear, the occultation should be visible to the unaided eye from anywhere in southern California. It is safe to view an occultation without any eye protection. You do not need a telescope to see an occultation. Just go outside and look up to the east-northeast.
A time-lapse version of the occultation feed should be available from Griffith Observatory’s YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/GriffithObservatory) at 8:00 a.m., PST, on December 8.
Mars Occultation
Mars Occultation Timeline (All Times in PST)
| 6:00 p.m. | Online broadcast begins |
| 6:31 p.m. | Mars disappears behind the Moon |
| 7:31 p.m. | Mars reappears from behind the Moon |
| 7:45 p.m. | Online broadcast ends |
What is an Occultation?
An occultation of Mars occurs when the planet disappears from view directly behind the Moon and reappears on the opposite side. On December 7, Mars will disappear behind the full Moon at 6:31 p.m., PST for one hour before reappearing from the opposite side at 7:31 p.m.
Advice for Viewing
If skies are clear, the occultation will be visible to the unaided eye from anywhere in southern California. It is safe to view an occultation without any eye protection. You do not need a telescope to see an occultation though telescopes or binoculars may enhance the view. Just go outside and look up to the east-northeast.
Because an occultation offers two singular moments, it is not practical to have a telescopic star party. However, the observatory with have a screen outside the building so visitors on the grounds can see a telescopic view.