Danville residents can get once-in-a-blue-moon view

The Danville Science Center is offering free views of an unusual night sky Thursday night, giving people a chance to see both a “blue moon” and Mars during its closest pass to Earth in six years.

Jeff Liverman, executive director of the center, said a blue moon occurs in any month that has two full moons. One full moon lit up the sky on Jan. 1 and a second can be seen tonight, though it won’t become “officially full” until Jan. 30, Liverman said.

Mars will also be in view as twilight falls.

Weather permitting, telescopes will be set up behind the train station at nightfall, about 6 p.m., Liverman said. They will remain set up until about 9 p.m. “as long as we have a bunch of people having a good time.”

There is no charge to take a look at Mars or to watch “the rays that appear to splash out of the bright, prominent craters on the moon’s surface,” Liverman said.

The Science Center is located at 677 Craghead St., and the train station is directly across the parking lot from it.