Scopes, binoculars, cameras! Mars is ready for its close-up
If, like me, you’ve been eagerly watching Mars improve in appearance over the past few months, you’ll be excited that December is here. It really is the month of Mars: not only is the Red Planet at its closest to Earth and at opposition this month – putting it at its brightest and largest for observing – but on the same date as opposition it will also briefly vanish behind the Moon. This event, a lunar occultation, is rare, so set your alarms early! For all the details, read The Big Three in our Sky Guide, then head to our astrophotography section to find a guide to photographing this exciting meeting of Mars and the Moon. But Mars is well-placed in the night sky all month and well into 2023, so be sure to read our feature to discover how to maximise this special Mars season.
This month also marks the 50th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 17, the final Apollo mission and the last time humans set foot on the Moon. We’ve got a blow-by-blow account of this record-breaking mission, as well as an in-depth look at the rich legacy left by the whole Apollo programme. Its imprint is to be found on scientific research and crewed spaceflight up to this day – and of course is keenly felt with the recent launch of Artemis I.
Lastly, there’s the chance to win a £250 Amazon gift voucher when you tell us what you think about the magazine. To share your views, just visit bbcstudios.com/survey to take part – it takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Enjoy the issue, and season’s greetings!
PS Our next issue goes on sale on Thursday 15 December.