Mars is near! Mars will be closer than it has been in thousands of years. On Aug 26, the red planet will be beautifully viewable with the naked eye. Apparently you get a nice view only every 15 to 17 years.
Here are a couple of articles from Sky and Telescope:
Mars at Its All-Time Finest
A Mars Record for the Ages
So get out your picnic blanket and flashlight, and head into the fresh outdoors for a viewing!