Mars is at its brightest for 11 years. The planet is on its way to being closer to us than it has been for long, at a relatively intimate 47.2 million miles. The position will be reached on May 30, and will last for the next couple of weeks.

Usually, Mars is hard to see, even with special equipment. But a series of events over the next couple of weeks will give skywatchers the treat of seeing it with the naked eye – and a range of other celestial events will be creating a yet more spectacular set of sights.