Choose an evening between May and September to view Mars. As of 2010, Mars is most visible during these months. Do not try to view Mars in December, when the sun completely blocks your view of it. The optimal viewing months are the same for both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Search for Mars between the Bull and Hunter constellations. In the Northern Hemisphere, it appears in the southeastern part of the sky. Southern Hemisphere viewers will find it in the northern part of the sky. Use a finder map on an astronomy site, such as Nightskyinfo.com or Ntlworld.com, to find a more specific location of Mars in the night sky.
Go outside between 4:30 and 5:00 am. Mars rises closer to 4:30 am in the Northern Hemisphere and closer to 5:00 am in the Southern Hemisphere. Keep in mind that it orbits the sun and will be harder to see at times other than these.
Choose an area to see Mars that is free of artificial lights, trees and other obstacles to viewing. Look toward the area of the sky indicated by your viewer map.
Look for a reddish-orange star, although it can also appear yellowish. This is Mars.