Rare chance to spot Mars in the Sussex skies

Astronomy fans have a chance to get a rare view of Mars in the Sussex skies as it passes just 47.2 million miles from Earth.
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The Red Planet will be at its closest to us for 11 years from May 30 and will stay close and bright until the middle of June.

Mars can be seen low in the South-East and remarkable detail can be picked out using a telescope with 75-100 times magnification.

The best time to see it is around 1am.

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Mars is just one of three treats for astronomers, along with Saturn and red supergiant star Antares.

While Mars and Saturn glow steadily, Antares twinkles as a result of its faint light being distorted by tiny temperature ripples in the atmosphere.

Saturn, which looks yellowish, is next to Mars at the moment.

Antares is fainter but it also has a fiery colour.

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