In a way Mars, the planet of death and war and doom, will be clearer in the next couple months than it will be in our entire lifetimes. The close approach in 2003 was much lower on the horizon. This year is nearly as bright and will be passing directly overhead. Only a fraction of the atmospheric interference of 2003. The planet of doom is making a dramatic sight in the night skies about now, but what does it foretell?