If we get the weather to cooperate, Mars will indeed be cool to view. However, it was closer to Earth back on August 27th 2003. That was the closest it has been to the Earth in 60,000 years.

The next time that Mars gets as close to Earth as it did back in August 2003 will be 2287. Regardless, Mars is great to view and whether its 2003 or 2010 the differance is only a few million kilometers so, although you may notice that Mars is a little brighter and redder than normally, dont expect it to grab the naked eye like Hale-Bopp did.