Mars & the Moon Will Have a Close Encounter in the Sky Tonight

It's not just the day that a rover lands on Mars. It's a good night to be stargazing as well.

February 18 is a big day for the red planet. The headlining event is clearly the arrival of the Perseverance rover on Mars. In the afternoon, the rover and its Mars Helicopter Ingenuity will end the months-long trip to the fourth planet from the sun. The rover will touch down in the Jezero Crater around 3 pm ET to begin an exciting science mission for NASA. 

The night of February 18, however, your attention should remain on Mars. The planet that shines with a ruddy red hue will have a close pass with the moon, creating a beautiful pairing in the early evening. It'll be an encounter that is easy to see with the naked eye. 

moon and mars conjunction
NASA JPL/YouTube

Look west after sunset to see the red planet sitting just to the right of the waning gibbous moon. Unlike more difficult to see celestial sights, like meteor showers, you will be able to see this pairing even from inside most cities because Mars is so bright. The night sky is always stunning under truly dark skies, but this will still be visible if you don't travel to a rural area to see the duo.

So, spend a little time thinking about Mars throughout the day. It's a big day for the red feller. 

Ready to go stargazing?

Here are all the best stargazing events that you can get out and see this month or you could stay in a stream the northern lights from home. If you're just getting started, check out our guide to astronomy for beginners, the best meteor showers of 2021, or easy stargazing road trips from big US cities

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Dustin Nelson is a Senior Staff Writer at Thrillist. Follow Dustin Nelson on Twitter.