If you go outside tonight, you will see the full Moon. That very bright reddish looking star just below and to the left of the Moon is actually Mars. The planet is now at its closest and brightest for this orbit and will not be this bright again till 2032. If you miss it tonight, Mars will remain bright and visible in the evening sky for the next few weeks, but you won't always have the Moon as a guidepost.
For viewers in northwestern Europe, or most of N. America the Moon will actually pass in front of (occult) Mars tonight. See details at
For more on Mars and what an opposition is, see our blog:
