Daily Postcard: Moon rising toward Mars at 7:08 p.m. Thursday. Mars was about as close as it has ever been to the Earth in 2022. Mars appeared three times its normal size. In many parts of the U.S., the Moon obscured (covered) Mars Thursday evening. In New Mexico, the Moon passed below Mars. At 9:07 p.m. in Los Alamos, this picture shows a jet passing above Mars. The red glow of the engine is visible. This photo shows what can be captured these days using only a cell phone camera. Photo by DWDecker

Capella star, the brightest star in the Auriga Constellation (high right), appears equally as bright as Mars did Thursday Dec. 8, 2022. Photo by DWDecker