So I grabbed my camera, ran outside, and looked up just as Mars was supposed to emerge from the Moon's curved horizon. Seen with the naked eye, the Moon's brightness far outshined Mars, casting soft shadows on a cold winter evening in East Texas.

Mars will seem to disappear behind the full wolf moon Monday for many sky-gazers. Throughout January, also look up to see Venus, Saturn and Jupiter in the night sky.

I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere).

On Monday night you may have a chance to witness the moon obscuring the Red Planet at its brightest, as well as a comet’s closest approach to the sun.

Prepare to howl with delight at the first full moon of January 2025, the wolf moon, one of several wonders in the night sky this month.

January's wolf moon will officially be the first full moon of 2025 at 4:27 p.m. CT. Space is a big place, so keen stargazers will have the opportunity to see, or rather not see, Mars as it hides behind the moon before it has its own moment later in the week.