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.

I pick out North America’s celestial highlights for the week ahead (which also apply to mid-northern latitudes in the northern hemisphere).

Through January, many interesting astronomical events occur in the night sky. Mars is at its brightest, Venus and Saturn approach each other at the closest rate they come, and planetary alignment occurs between 6 planets. 4 of those will be visible with the naked eye.

The first full moon of 2025 will rise and illuminate the night sky on Monday evening. January’s full ‘wolf moon’ reaches peak illumination on Monday at 5:27 p.m., according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. It marks the first of 12 full moons this year, including three supermoons that will rise in consecutive months in the fall.

NASA’s Curiosity rover is skygazing and photographing lovely examples of noctilucent clouds on Mars. The wispy formations hang like a veil across the sky.

"Mars' time and position of reappearance is difficult to judge since the planet lies concealed behind the moon beforehand," the league said. Why is it called the Wolf Moon? The mo

The first full moon of the year will glide through the sky Monday night. For lucky stargazers in some parts of the world, it will also pass in front of a brilliantly red Mars ... and that's not all.

Helen Willetts takes a look at what's going on in the night sky and the chances of seeing this month's Wolf Moon.