Mars in Opposition
Starting August 7th and culminating August 27th, Mars will be the closest to Earth that it's been in a long time. Some scientist say this degree of proximity only happens every 60,000 years. So, unless you hold out hope for your kids' immortality and unless you don't mind them coming up to you as adults to say, "Geez Mom. Why didn't you give me a chance to see that when I was little," get a telescope, go to an observatory, or do whatever you can to witness this rare event with your kids. It'll be the biggest thing in the sky other than the moon. Just look eastward at around 10:00 P.M. or later, and a school night be damned!