Mars will be about 34 million miles away from the Earth and visible tonight

It will rise in the sky at about 7pm and be at peak visibility just after midnight 

It is closer than usual to the Earth due to the two planets differing orbits

It will appear slightly reddish in colour and can be seen to the right of the Moon

Mars will be closer to Earth tonight than at any point in the past 17 years tonight and will be the second brightest object in the night sky after the Moon, astronomers say.

The Red Planet is at its point of opposition, with the Earth passing directly between it and the Sun and will appear 'effectively as a full Mars', according to NASA.

It will be visible with the naked eye and appear slightly reddish in colour and looking through a telescope should allow you to spot surface features and polar ice caps.

From the UK the planet will rise above the horizon at about 19:00 BST but will be best viewed after midnight - ideally in an area with a clear sky and minimal light pollution. 

To view Mars in the night sky you should look to the right of the Moon and towards the constellation Pisces - it will be the second brightest object after the Moon. 

'Simply go outside and look up and, depending on your local weather and lighting conditions, you should be able to see Mars,' NASA wrote in a blog post.