IN THE last Skywatch we looked forward to the planets Saturn and Mars shining close together in the sky before sunrise, writes STUART ATKINSON. By this weekend they will be much, much closer together, and will look like a very striking 'double star' in the sky before dawn. And later in the week they will be so close together, almost on top of each other, that you'll see them both at the same time through a pair of binoculars, something that doesn't happen very often.

On Saturday morning (March 31) the two planets will be close together side by side, with Saturn to the left of Mars. Saturn will look slightly fainter than Mars, and will shine with a yellow-white hue compared to more orange Mars. Over the next few mornings they will slowly move closer together, with Saturn moving closer to and then passing above Mars, Look to the south around 5.30am on the morning of Tuesday, April 3, and you'll see the two planets shining so close together they'll almost look like they're touching. Saturn will be above Mars, just twice a Moon diameter away. This will look stunning so please try to see it! Try photographing it too. The camera on your phone might even be good enough to capture the two planets, so give it a try.

After Tuesday the two planets will slowly move apart again, so try your best to get out and enjoy this planetary close encounter before they've gone their separate ways.