Closer than since 2003! Even closer now than when we passed between Mars and the sun last Friday. How that can happen, and the prospects for viewing Mars through a telescope now.

An eclipse season lasts a little over one lunar month and typically includes 1 solar and 1 lunar eclipse. In 1 out of 7 eclipse seasons, the 1st eclipse comes early. Then we can have 3 eclipses. Watch for a 3rd eclipse in this eclipse season, in August!

It'll be the longest total lunar eclipse of this century, with Mars - at its brightest - nearby. Red moon, red Mars. It doesn't get any better than this.

Earth passes between Mars and the sun on July 27, 2018 (night of July 26 for the Americas). It's best time to see Mars in some 15 years. Plus ... the moon gets in on the act.

Saturn is the bright planet close to tonight's moon, but a couple of brighter ones - Jupiter and Mars - are also nearby. Learn to identify them all!

It's getting exciting up there! We're headed for a brightest Mars, and a long lunar eclipse, on July 27. Get in the mood by identifying Saturn and red star Antares near tonight's moon.

The name Antares derives from the Ancient Greek and means rival to Ares - that is, rival to Mars. Like Mars, Antares is red in color. Antares is sometimes brighter than Mars, it's no match for Mars now!

As soon as darkness falls on July 20, use to moon to find the dazzling king planet Jupiter nearby. Then, over the new few evenings, the moon can help you identify the bright red star Antares.

On July 19, 2018, as the setting sun closes the curtains on the day, and the darkening skies bring out a myriad of far-off suns, let the moon introduce you to a very special star.

Last chance to see these 2 very bright objects relatively close. After Monday evening, the moon - pursuing its easterly orbit around Earth - will be waxing larger and shifting away from Venus.