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.

The moon performed a cosmic ballet with Mars this week. On Monday evening (Jan. 13), the Full Wolf Moon passed in front of Mars in what's known as a lunar occultation, during which another celestial object appears to disappear behind the moon from our vantage point on Earth.

The highlight of the week is coming tonight in the night sky - the lunar occultation of Mars. First off, at 5:27 p.m. the moon will be officially full. The full January moon is known as the "Wolf" moon.

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.

January's full Wolf Moon will "eat" Mars for a short time tonight as the Red Planet prepares for opposition later this week.