Mars set to dazzle this weekend: Red planet to shine brightly as it reaches closest distance to Earth in 11 years

If you look up at the sky this weekend, you might just be able to catch a glimpse of Mars.

In a rare concurrence of celestial events, stargazers will be able to see the red planet shining brighter than any star or planet in the night sky.

The planet will then reach its closest distance to Earth in more than a decade in the days to follow.

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Some might say that the Mars opposition occurs 'once in a Blue Moon.' But this year, the saying will hold a bit more truth. In a rare concurrence of celestial events, stargazers will be able to witness the Blue Moon and Mars opposition, and the red planet will be one of the brightest objects in the sky. Mars is pictured above

This means that it will align with the sun in a way that places Earth directly in between the two objects, Nasa explains.

Starting Sunday night, viewers will be able to see the brightly lit Mars from dusk until dawn.

It will shine 7 times brighter than Saturn, and some 17 times more brilliantly than the red star Antares.

And, red planet will remain exceptionally bright during the weeks to follow.

Once it reaches opposition, it will have quadrupled in brightness just since the start of April, according to EarthSky.

And, it will be 80 times brighter than it is at its faintest point.

Opposition occurs roughly every 26 months, but this year's event is particularly remarkable.

The opposition of Mars will take place on May 22 and will bring the red planet within roughly 47 million miles (75.6 million km) of Earth, Nasa explains.

Mars will reach its highest point in the night sky at midnight, around 35 degrees above the southern horizon.

The planet will continue to appear brighter and larger in the sky until June 3.

And, eight days after opposition, the orbits will bring the planets another half a million miles closer together, bringing them the closest they have been for 11 years.

To see Mars during this rare close approach, look to the sky after the sun sets. Mars will be brightest when it reaches its highest point in the sky, the zone roughly a third of the distance between the horizon and the spot directly overhead. The illustration above shows its position relative to the moon

As the red planet will remain bright for several weeks before fading slowly from view, stargazers will be able to catch a glimpse of the phenomenon even if this weekend proves to be cloudy, according to AccuWeather. 

To see Mars during this rare close approach, look to the sky after the sun sets.

Mars will be brightest when it reaches its highest point in the sky, the zone roughly a third of the distance between the horizon and the spot directly overhead.

For the remainder of May, this will be around midnight, and in the first few days of June, it will be slightly earlier.

The next chance to see Mars this close will be in the summer of 2018.

The opposition of Mars will take place on May 22 and will bring the red planet within roughly 47 million miles (75.6 million km) of Earth. This means that it will align with the sun in a way that places Earth directly in between the two objects. Opposition is pictured above, image not to scale

Starting Sunday night, Mars will be one of the brightest objects in the sky besides the moon, and viewers will be able to see it from dusk until dawn. Mars will reach its highest point in the night sky at midnight, around 35 degrees above the southern horizon, and will continue to appear brighter and larger in the sky until June 3

Future events will bring the planets even closer together, Nasa has said, as the elliptical orbit of Mars is becoming more elongated over time.

This means that in future, the red planet will drift even closer to the sun and reach even further out into the solar system. 

And, the Blue Moon will be visible on Saturday night, starting off a series of cosmic marvels that will be visible over the next few weeks.

While a 'Blue Moon' isn't actually blue, the rarity of its occurrence is what makes these events stand out.

Typically, each astronomical season – spring, summer, fall, winter – has three full moons.

In the occasion that a season will have four full moons, the third full moon is known as the 'Blue Moon.' 

The last event of this kind occurred in August 2013.

The Blue Moon will be visible on Saturday night. While a 'Blue Moon' isn't actually blue, the infrequency of its occurrence makes this event a treat for many. Typically, each astronomical season has three full moons. In the occasion that a season will have four full moons, the third full moon is known as the 'Blue Moon'