Set your clocks and get ready to look up at the sky as this month is about to be your best chance to see Mars for the next 15 years.
Mars will make its closest approach to Earth in more than two years this month, and with NASA having described the red planet’s appearance as “effectively a ‘full’ Mars”, this offers us the best chance to view our planetary neighbour in nearly 20 years.
If the typical Manchester weather permits, that is.
The planet will be visible at night throughout October – rising the highest in the sky around midnight each night – and will shine in the east each evening and in the west before dawn, but next Tuesday 13th October is the big date to mark in your diaries though, as Mars will shine brighter in the sky than it has since 2003, and will not appear like this again until 2035.
Mars is a pretty impressive planet and one that we are learning more about everyday, but it doesn’t always make an appearance like this, so why are we so lucky this month?
Well, according to NASA, it’s due to a celestial event known as the Mars’ Opposition.
Mars reaches opposition every 26 months – meaning Earth passes directly between the Sun and Mars – and this is due to take place next week.
Millions of miles separate the Moon and Mars, but you’ll see them close together in the sky tonight (they’ll rise in the East around 8 pm local time). That’s because Earth, the Moon, and Mars are nearly lined up. Check out our virtual solar system: https://t.co/5YjIBXKLcGpic.twitter.com/ma46iZ6Xit
This event occurs as Mars and Earth don’t orbit the sun in perfect circles, or even on the same plane, and instead, the planets have elliptical orbits shaped like ovals, so for example, while Earth only takes 365 days to complete an orbit around the sun, Mars takes 687 days.
Basically, when Earth moves closer to the sun, Mars moves away from it.
The red planet is due to make its closest approach to Earth today, meaning that Mars will be 38,586,816 miles away from Earth – which, believe it or not, is actually close for Mars – and it won’t be this close again until 2035.
The last time this happened was in 2003 when Mars made its closest approach to Earth in 60,000 years and came within a distance of 34.65 million miles.
Even though Mars is at its closest point tonight, it won’t actually be at its very brightest until next Tuesday, so although you’ll have a great view of it tonight, you should get an even better chance to pick it out in the night sky next week.
Fingers crossed for clear skies, right Manchester?
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No-phones nightclub Amber’s has announced it is relaunching its second room
Manchester’s famous no-phones nightclub, Amber’s, is preparing for a relaunch of its second room, just over half a year on from the venue’s opening week.
The smash hit, semi-censored space, which enforces a strictly no-device policy to ensure those in attendance maximise their amount of in-the-moment enjoyment without any risk of distraction, has just announced that they will be reworking ‘Room 2’.
Confirmed just in time for the rest of summer ‘season three’, where plenty of people will be opting to rave instead of splash their cash on Oasis and/or festival tickets, the soon-to-be-refreshed space will partner with audio specialists to provide an experience set to rival the main room.
Sharing a post featuring blueprints for the fixtures and some of the top-end equipment, new-look second room opens its doors early next month.
Writing on social media, the venue wrote: “Amber’s is proud to announce the relaunch of Room Two, featuring a brand new custom soundsystem designed by Norwegian pro-audio specialist NNNN and OJAS, and installed by Neuron Audio Visual.
“The collaboration between Amber’s and NNNN is the first time that the Oslo-based company, which specialises in innovating the future of audio, has created a speaker system for use in the UK. Amber’s will be the first venue in the country to house the state-of-the-art system.”
“The partnership furthers our commitment to world-class sound and creating a truly unique club space in the heart of Manchester. Room Two also now boasts a brand new lighting system and has received bespoke acoustic treatment.”
Reacting to the news, plenty of punters and artists alike are already stoked to see what they have in store; promoters ABB Events simply said, “We can’t wait to test this out 26 September.”
Speaking to The Manc, a regular visitor of Amber’s Manchester told us: “Room Two at Amber’s always felt a little forgotten – a space with potential, but lacking the same pull as the main room. With this new Soundsystem they’re putting in, it finally feels like it’s getting the love it deserves.”
While we understand the urge to document those ‘unforgettable’ gig moments – that does kind of go against what we build them up to be, hence why the Amber’s concept has gone down so well.
Teasing a lineup of “the best in house, techno and groove”, Amber’s Room Two 2.0 will debut on 2 August, and regulars are buzzing for it.
As always, the headliner remains unannounced to keep that allure, as well as that further added feeling of anticipation and excitement.
A nationwide restaurant chain is giving away free food to any customer simply by singing an Oasis song to their server.
Well, if you haven’t heard of the long-standing phrase sing for your supper, this UK restaurant has taken this literally as its new offer makes you do just that.
Italian chain Prezzo has launched its latest deal, encouraging its diners to sing an Oasis song to get their hands on some free food, and it coincides with the summer reunion tour of the legendary Manc band.
Each day, the restaurant will be giving away a free portion of lasagne for up to four people per table if you can sing the opening verse from the 1994 cult classic, ‘Digsy’s Dinner’.
If you manage to recite “What a life it would be / If you could come to mine for tea / I’ll pick you up at half past three / We’ll have lasagne” when purchasing a drink, you could get your hands on some complimentary classic Italian scran.
You’ll have to act fast to claim your free plate of lasagne, as this offer is only applicable to the first two tables that recite the lyrics to the Oasis track every day, per Prezzo location.
Make sure you sing the verse from ‘Digsy’s Dinner’ before you order, as if you sing after placing an order, you may not qualify.
Hey, we take freebies seriously, so you don’t have to…
You don’t have to worry about staying in tune or doing your best Liam Gallagher impression either, as you’re singing technique is not being judged, just make sure your table-side performance is audible enough for your server to hear.
Prezzo Italian is running its ‘Oasis Sing For Your Supper Promotion’ from 4 July until 29 September 2025 and if you take part during the Live ’25 tour run, you can score yourself some free lasagne for up to four people on your table.
This sounds like a ‘Supersonic’ way to start your upcoming Oasis gig day or a perfect way to ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ after a jam-packed day of summer activities.
The closest Prezzo Italian location to Manchester city centre is over at MediaCity UK, and all the information you need to know before you warm up your inner ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Star’ can be found HERE.
So, in answer to LG’s famous question, “Does anyone fancy some lasagne?” – yes, we do, especially if it comes free.
Emily Sergeant -
6th October 2020 
