ASTRONOMY FOR BEGINNERS
HOW TO SEE THE DAYLIGHT MOON OCCULT MARS
WHEN: NOVEMBER/EARLY WINTER
Daylight makes finding astronomical objects, apart from the Sun, difficult. In December, however, it’ll be worth trying to locate the 89-per-cent-lit, waning gibbous Moon during the day because it’s due to hide Mars (an event known as a lunar occultation). The bright Moon that dominates the night sky is tamed by daylight, blending in well with a blue sky. But, provided you adjust your expectations about what you’re looking for, the large gibbous Moon shouldn’t be too hard to find, given clear weather.