February 8-10, 2025: After sundown, the gibbous moon plays tag with Mars in the eastern sky. This celestial game occurs during the evening planet parade that includes Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, and the Red Planet.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
The evening sky is described one hour after sunset. Find sunset times in local sources.
Evening Planet Parade
Four bright planets – Saturn, Venus, Jupiter, and Mars – are visible from west-southwest to the east along the arc of the solar system’s plane, known as the ecliptic.
Mars-Moon Conjunction
The gibbous moon approaches and passes Mars in a game of celestial tag. Here’s what to see one hour after sunset:
- February 8: The gibbous moon, 87% illuminated, is over halfway up in the eastern sky. It is 10.4° to Mars’ upper right. The Red Planet retrogrades in front of Gemini, 5.7° to Pollux’s upper right and 6.3° to Castor’s lower right.
- February 9: From northern Europe and northern Asia, the moon occults or eclipses Mars. From the Americas, the moon, 93% illuminated, is between Mars and Pollux after sundown.
- February 10: The gibbous moon, 98% illuminated, is nearly 30° up in the east and less than 20° to Mars’ lower left. Mars is 6.0° to Pollux’s upper right and 6.5° to Castor’s lower right.
Mars continues to retrograde until the 23rd, when it marches eastward again. It passes Castor for a third conjunction on March 21st, followed by the final conjunction with Pollux 10 days later.
Snow Moon
The moon reaches the Full phase on the 12th at 7:53 a.m. Central Time. This month’s bright moon is known as the Snow Moon.
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