The opposition of Mars is upon us. Every 26 months, including April 8, Mars, the Sun, and Earth end up in a nearly-straight line. With the fourth planet and the Sun on opposite ends of the sky, we can see the former shine brightly. So if you look up tonight, the burnt-orange light, ten-times brighter than any star, is the Red Planet.
But if you miss Mars tonight, fret not. In a few days, on April 14th, Earth and its second-closest planetary neighbour will be at their minimum distance, providing night stargazers another opportunity to view our dusty companion.
For more information, you can watch the video below from NASA.
