tonight you will be able to observe the biggest and brightest moon for this year (2010) accompanied by mars. and mars will be closest to earth this week. NASA has even set up a facebook event for this. a slightly significant astronomical conjuncture?

Facebook Event by NASA JPL: Friday Night with the Moon and Mars

visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=455652415787

If you step outside and look East after sunset this weekend, you’ll see a bright orange star-like object rising. That’s Mars, and right now it’s brighter than anything else in the eastern evening sky. This weekend promises two spectacular encounters with our nearest neighbors in the sky --Mars and our Moon.

The best view comes on Friday, Jan. 29, when the 'largest' full moon of the year (a perigee moon) and Mars (at its closest point to Earth) will both be visible for a bright display in the night sky.

Mars is officially at opposition on Jan. 27, and will be just 99 million kilometers away (or 61 million miles).

What's Opposition?

Opposition is when Sun, Earth and Mars are lined up, with Earth directly between the two. At that time Mars and Earth are at their closest distance. Opposition occurs approximately every two years. Happy Mars-gazing!

Why will the Moon look bigger?

By happy coincidence, both the moon and Mars are at their closest to Earth right now. The moon's orbit is elliptical -- it's closest point to Earth is some 30,000 miles (50,000 km) nearer than its farthest point. The closest point is called perigee, so some call this a perigee moon. The moon will appear 14-percent bigger and 30-percent brighter. What a marvelous night for a moondance!

Viewing details

Mars should be clearly visible for all night sky observers from sunset to sunrise (weather permitting). Look to the eastern horizon just as the sun sets in the west. Use binoculars or a telescope for the best view. On Jan 29 the full moon will be next to Mars in the sky. The moon is exactly full at 1:18 am Saturday morning EST, 10:18 pm Friday evening PST.

SkyandTelescope.com

Mars is at opposition, opposite the Sun in Earth's sky. So is the full Moon next to it! Moreover, the Moon is at perigee, making this the largest and brightest full Moon, by a little bit, of the year. (The Moon is exactly full at 1:18 a.m. Saturday morning EST).

source: http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance/82407167.html

SpaceWeather.com

FULL MOON AND MARS: Friday night's full Moon is the biggest and brightest full Moon of the year. It's a "perigee Moon," as much as 14% wider and 30% brighter than other full Moons you'll see later in 2010. But that's not all. Mars is having a close encounter with Earth, and on Friday night, Jan. 29th, it will join the Moon for an all-night-long conjunction.

source: http://spaceweather.com

StarDate Online: Mars Brightest for Year, Pairs up with Full Moon January 29

One of the skywatching highlights of the year takes place on the night of January 29, as the full Moon and the planet Mars march high across the sky, according to the editors of StarDate magazine. Mars and the Moon are low in the east-northeast at nightfall, with the Red Planet to the left of the Moon. Mars looks like a brilliant orange star.

One reason this is such a grand spectacle is that Mars is at opposition on the 29th, which means it lines up opposite the Sun as Earth passes by Mars in our smaller, faster orbit around the Sun. Mars rises around sunset and remains in view all night. The planet is also closest to us around opposition, so it shines brightest for the year.

see more: http://stardate.org/mediacenter/20090129-mars-brightest.html