Amateur astronomers across Bradford are getting set for a close encounter of the Mars kind.

The red planet, half the size of Earth, is on course to get the closest it has been to our planet for the past 60,000 years.

But there is no danger of collision - because it is still 56 million kilometres (35 million miles) away.

Planet-gazers can already see Mars in the night-sky by looking southwards low on the horizon, but expert astronomers say August 27 will be when it is the closest.

It will get so near to us that some of the planet's most famous features will even be visible using small telescopes.

Because of the way Mars will be tilted towards Earth, people should be able to see the whitish glare of its South Polar ice cap.

Other prominent features include a vast V-shaped plain called Syrtis Major and a volcano called Mons - believed to be the size of Europe.

Although chilly Mars has no atmosphere of its own - it's closeness should provide plenty of celebrations for star-gazers on Earth, said Hillary Knaggs, chairman of Bradford Astronomers Club, who is pictured with Tony West and Mike Alexander.

Members are getting their telescopes ready for the big night and will be at Otley Chevin from August 23 to 30 from 9pm to make the most of the close encounter.

And to give as many people as possible the chance of sharing the experiencing of getting close-up to Mars they are inviting members of the public to go along and join them - clear skies permitting.

As well as Mars, they'll be looking at Uranus, Neptune and star clusters.

"I know lots of our members will be organising Mars parties on the night of the 27th - it's a bit of an event because it's a one-off chance to see it closer than we've ever seen it before," said Hillary.

And she added: "You'll know when you see it. It's reddish and the brightest thing in the sky, it's like a beacon. It rises in the south-east as the sun goes down and by the early hours it's in the south, low on the horizon."

Anyone who wants to brush up on their Mars knowledge facts is invited to the society's next meeting on Monday at Eccleshill Library at 7.30pm where a talk about the planet accompanied by a film will take place.

Society members are also tracking the progress of the European Space Agency's Mars Express mission which is now two-months into its half-year trip to the red planet.