View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Helio C. Vital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, captured the moon and Mars after midnight on September 6, 2020. He wrote: “From Rio de Janeiro, the moon passed nearly in front of Mars (a “grazing” occultation). Mars was 178 times further away and 6,378 dimmer than the moon. The 19-minute grazing occultation could be seen from Rio around midnight on September 6. Nikon CoolPix P900 camera was used with no telescope attached.” Thank you, Helio!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jose Luis Ruiz in Almeria, Spain, captured the moon and Mars close together before midnight on September 5, 2020. He wrote: “Just today, I was able to photograph the occultation of Mars by the moon from Almería. In the absence of just over 5 minutes, a band of clouds covered the moon and Mars. Then clouds and clearings.” Thank you, Jose Luis!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Eliot Herman wrote: “Moon and Mars clearing the ridgeline in Tucson, Arizona. The close conjunction of the moon and bright near-opposition Mars was a striking sight. The terminator of the moon shows the terrain picking up light on the craters and mountains leading to the observed discontinuities [the jagged appearance of the upper edge of the moon].” Thank you, Eliot!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Abigail Atienza wrote: “I just want to share a photo of the waning gibbous moon and the red planet Mars (on the right) with the northern lights in Iqaluit, Nunavut, Canada. September 6, 2020, 9:20 p.m. Road to Nowhere.” Thank you, Abigail!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | John Merriam in St Augustine, Florida, captured multiple images of the moon and Mars after midnight on September 6. In these images, Mars is a dot to the left of the moon. John wrote: “Moon and Mars within about 1 degree of one another … This is about a 30-minutes time lapse.” Thank you, John.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Jürgen Graf in Vienna, Austria, captured this shot in late evening on September 5, 2020, and wrote: “Had troubles capturing the moon and Mars because of the clouds, but managed to get this dramatic shot.” Thank you, Jürgen.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Niko Powe in Kewanee, Illinois, captured the moon and Mars on September 6. Here, Mars appears reddish (it’s very reddish in the sky now) and in about the 11 o’clock position with respect to the moon. Niko wrote: “Rising and appeared very close to each other. Commanded that you take a 2nd look! I had to get a shot! Have a blessed day EarthSky Community!” Thank you, Niko!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Alexander Krivenyshev of the website WorldTimeZone.com wrote: “Appulse (very close conjunction) of the moon and Mars over New York City.” See the moon and Mars in the upper left of the image? Thank you, Alexander.View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Nancy Ricigliano captured the pair just after midnight on September 6, from Long Island, New York. In this image, Mars is in the 12 o’clock position with respect to the moon. Nancy wrote: “Went in my yard this evening (this morning) to capture Mars close to the moon. It was a perfect night for it.” Thank you, Nancy!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | John Van Allen was in Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic, when he caught the moon and Mars on September 6. Here, Mars is in the 9 o’clock position with respect to the moon. He wrote: “Dodging between clouds, but finally got it.” Thanks, John!View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Kannan A in Singapore captured the moon and Mars around 6:30 a.m. on September 5, 2020. He wrote: “The waning gibbous moon and planet Mars seen in the morning, descending towards the northwest of Singapore.” Thank you, Kannan A.
Bottom line: Photos of the close sweep of the moon past the red planet Mars on September 5 and 6, 2020. Thanks to all who contributed to EarthSky Community Photos!
Deborah Byrd created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. Today, she serves as Editor-in-Chief of this website. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named 3505 Byrd in her honor. In 2020, she won the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society, the largest organization of professional astronomers in North America. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.
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