This week, an unusually bright orange “star” is outshining the rest.

This particular luminary, also known as the planet Mars, is the subject of a special viewing at the Davis Hall Observatory, running through Thursday night.

Mars usually is just another light in the sky, but about every two years, it enters an angle called an opposition, during which the Earth is directly between the sun and the “Red Planet.”

The special viewing times at the observatory will run from 8 to 11 p.m., augmenting the observatory’s normal Tuesday and Thursday schedule.

Newcomers to stargazing should have no problem finding Mars in the sky this week, even without a telescope.

“All stars will twinkle; planets won’t,” said sophomore physics major Eric Johnson.

Johnson is a member of the NIU Astronomical Society, which is hosting the special viewing times at the observatory. Although not an official organization at NIU, the organization has met informally for the past three or four years.

Freshman physics major and member Justin Haag said the turnout Monday was “more than what we expected.” Haag thinks Wednesday and Thursday will be better for viewing, as the National Weather Service is forecasting clear skies for these nights.

The observatory is on the top floor of Davis Hall, accessible via a separate set of stairs on the fifth floor. Students seeking more information on the observatory should contact observatory manager Liz Holden at 753-1305, or the Physics Department at 753-1772.