Tonight (Jan. 27th), Earth and Mars are converging for a close encounter.

The Red Planet will be only 99 million kilometers (0.66 AU) away, appearing bigger through a telescope (14.1 arcseconds) than anytime from 2008 until 2012. Let me dispel any rumors you may have heard however, that Mars will appear as large as the Full Moon. That just isn’t going to happen.

Through a telescope, Mars will be a sight to see, with the planets cloud tops easily visible, as well as it’s polar regions.

You don't need a telescope, however, to enjoy the close encounter. Mars is very easy to see with the unaided eye. It rises in the east at sunset and soars overhead at midnight, outshining every star in its patch of sky.

Just looked for the orange colored star, and you’ve located the Red Planet.