Close Approach of Mars and the Moon at Sun, 4 October 2026, 20:12
General information
The closest separation between Mars and Moon will occur on Sun, 4 October 2026, 20:12, when they will be separated by roughly 1.09°. The close approach occurs while both objects are below the horizon and cannot be observed.
Visibility window
The close approach begins when their separation drops below 2°, around 17:12, and ends when their separation grows beyond 2°, around 23:11. Observers can see them in the sky during this interval.Elevation & direction at closest approach
At the moment of closest approach, Mars and Moon will be approximately -21° above the horizon, in the Northwest.Constellation
At the time of the closest approach, both objects will be located in or near the constellation Cancer, making it easier to locate them in the night sky.Close Approch Dynamics
The map shows the event as it appears from your location. You can switch to Global view to see geocentric (Earth-centered) coordinates.
Close Approach Details
| Mars | Moon | |
|---|---|---|
| Time | 20:12 | |
| Angular separation (°) | 1.09 | |
| Geocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 27m 00s", Dec: 20° 16' 34s | RA: 08h 28m 31s", Dec: 21° 18' 24s |
| Topocentric Coordinates | RA: 08h 27m 00s", Dec: 20° 16' 30s | RA: 08h 30m 33s", Dec: 20° 31' 57s |
| Distance | 1.6359 AU (244,727,157 km) | 0.00249 AU (372,499 km) |
| Angular Size | 5.7" | 32' |
| Altitude (°) | -22 | -22 |
| Azimuth (°) | -39 Northwest | -38 Northwest |
Track Mars and Moon Relative Positions
| Time | |
| Altitude | |
| Azimuth |
Shift the map to change the time and observe changing position in the night sky.