The first full moon of 2025, the Wolf Moon, will illuminate UK skies tonight and appear to pass in front of Mars, making it seemingly disappear.

       The moon ascended at 3.21pm, growing more prominent after sunset at around 4.30pm.

       As the evening progresses, Mars will inch closer to the moon while both bodies ascend higher into the night sky, creating a stunning sky that can be seen with the naked eye. The moon is then due to be at its fullest at 10.28pm GMT tonight.

       However, BBC weather presenter Helen Willetts warned that weather conditions may impact the visibility of this celestial spectacle across the UK tonight.

       A weather front sweeping across Scotland is expected to bring sporadic rain and drizzle to the central regions of the country. Clearer skies are anticipated across eastern Scotland and later in Northern Ireland.

       READ MORE: Venus and crescent Moon dazzle stargazers across UK in rare celestial event

       Areas of central southern England, the south-east and East Anglia may benefit from cloudless conditions, although patches of mist and fog could potentially develop.

       According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, the Wolf Moon moniker originates from Native American tribes who would hear wolves howling during this period due to hunger pangs brought on by the harsh winter season.

       The full moon also goes by alternative names such as Stay Home Moon, Quiet Moon and Severe Moon. These names reflect the severe winter conditions during this phase when moonlight serves as the sole natural light source for over 12 hours.

       UK stargazers can look forward to seeing Mars and the Wolf Moon together in tonight's sky, while those in the United States and West Africa are set for an even more unusual spectacle.

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       In these areas, Mars will be momentarily eclipsed by the Moon in a phenomenon known as an occultation.

       Although British observers won't witness the occultation due to their geographical location, they will still enjoy a fantastic view of the moon and Mars moving together across the night sky.

       The red planet will be visible as a reddish dot next to the moon when looking eastward. Mars will reach its peak visibility this Thursday, appearing at its brightest - a spectacle that only happens once every 780 days.