NIGHT owls have been invited into the forest to experience the lure of the Red Planet.
The Forestry Commission's popular summer Nightwatch at Kielder Castle, in Northumberland, will be staged from 9pm on Saturday, August 30.
Visitors will be able to peek at celestial wonders through powerful telescopes and join rangers tracking down bats and moths.
The Nightwatch also takes place during National Astronomy Week when Mars will be at its nearest to Earth for 60,000 years.
Ranger Pippa Kirkham said: "The planet will be putting on its best show for thousands of years and this is a chance to join a truly unique occasion. Even if there is no life on Mars, there's bags of it in the forest and we'll be tracking down bats with radar devices and casting light on the mysterious world of moths using lamps and harmless traps."
Kielder has about 300 different species including garden tiger, gothic and setaceous Hebrew character.
The cost of Nightwatch is £3 adults and £2 concessions. To book, call (01434) 250209.
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