Mars, "the Red Planet," has been the source of legend and fantasy for centuries, perhaps millennia. It has been the setting for some great science fiction and, recently, the subject of a widely circulated, bogus e-mail claiming it will appear in the night sky as large as the full moon.

When it comes to facts, we have just begun to scratch the surface - literally - with our surprisingly durable robotic rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Every year, as our planet swings around the sun, we catch and pass Mars.

This year the two planets will be closest Dec. 18, and Mars will be at opposition (directly opposite the sun as seen from Earth) on Christmas Eve. At their closest, Earth and Mars will be about 55 million miles apart. Back in 2003, the two made their closest approach in human history, separated by only 35 million miles.

This year's approach provides a respectable disk when Mars is viewed through a telescope. It will brighten from magnitude minus 0.6 to minus 1.7.

Mars is in a retrograde loop in the constellation Gemini, moving slightly westward nightly. Rising around sunset and reaching the meridian (at the highest in the night sky) around midnight, it is ideally placed for viewing. A well collimated 6-inch or larger scope might reveal contrasting surface features. Experiment with eyepiece filters if you have them.

Several Web sites provide images and maps of Mars' surface to help you identify those elusive features. Check skyandtelescope.com or astronomy.com for starters.

There are a couple of nice reddish stars in the vicinity of Mars: Aldebaran in Taurus and Betelgeuse in Orion. On Dec. 23, the full moon will be a degree east of Mars.

Jupiter, still slightly brighter than Mars, is sinking rapidly into evening twilight in late November. Its cloud features will be difficult to spot, but its four Galilean moons will still be relatively easy to see in a small scope until December when the giant planet will be lost in the sun's glare. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the sun Dec. 23.

Venus, "the morning star," is dimming slightly, though you won't notice. It's brilliant (magnitude minus 4.3) in the predawn sky in Virgo, not far from the bright star Spica.

Saturn, in Leo, rises around midnight and, as always, is spectacular in a telescope. The planet's shadow, falling on its rings, creates a three-dimensional appearance. Its giant moon, Titan, should also be visible through a scope.

Mercury, which made its best showing of the year in early November, can still be seen in the predawn sky low in the east during the third week of November.

Meteor watchers have a couple of excellent excuses to spend chilly nights outside.

The Leonid meteor shower peaks during the predawn morning of Nov. 18, and the Geminid shower peaks during the morning of Dec. 14. The moon will not interfere with either event, and both have been known to provide good shows. Keep your fingers crossed for clear skies, bundle up and have a look.

It'll be a challenge to stay warm. Winter officially arrives at 11:08 p.m. Dec. 21.

And don't forget to tell Santa to put a little stargazing accessory in your favorite stargazer's stocking.

Lewis McCool writes from his home near Dolores, Colo., where he can take advantage of clear nights and dark skies.