Starship Asterisk*

[img3="By June 3rd, the triangle of Mars, Antares, and Saturn lengthens as Mars moves toward the upper right. Although the title says June 3, the scene is essentially the same from about June 1 through 5; use it any of those days. (Credit: Sky & Telescope)"]http://www.skyandtelescope.com/wp-conte ... June-3.jpg[/img3][hr][/hr]

Look low in the southeast at nightfall, and an unusually bright, fire-yellow "star" will be staring back at you. It's the planet Mars, closer to Earth now than it has been since November 2005.

Mars is exactly its closest on May 30th, 47.2 million miles from Earth. But it remains within 48 million miles of us from now through June 12th. So it will stay essentially this close and bright through the rest of May and the first two weeks of June. ...

Mars comes to opposition, appearing directly opposite the Sun as seen from Earth, on the night of May 21st, right as the full Moon shines close to it. Opposition and closest approach are offset by several days due to the ellipticity of Mars's orbit. ...