We’re now beginning several very special months for seeing Mars. This planet appears bright in our sky only about every two years, and that best time to see Mars is here. Mars is bright now, and it’ll be even brighter by December. That’s when Earth – in its smaller, faster orbit – will be quickly gaining on the red planet in the race of the planets around the sun.
In just a few more weeks – December 18, to be exact – Earth will swing closest to Mars for this two-year period. Mars, in turn, will shine at its brightest in our sky. In fact, December will bring Earth’s closest encounter with Mars, and Mars’ brightest appearance in our sky, until the year 2016.
Right now Mars rises in the east 2-3 hours after sunset and, of course, will be on the western horizon near dawn.