Spot the Waxing Moon and Sparkling Spica in Virgo Tonight — Stargazers Won’t Want to Miss This Cosmic Duo!
The Moon and Spica pair light up the evening sky in Virgo, with Corvus’s double star waiting for telescope fans nearby.
- Moon Phase: Waxing Gibbous (82% illumination)
- Spica: Brightest star in Virgo—Magnitude 1
- Moon’s Position: Over 6° southeast of Spica at sunset
- Prime Viewing: 1 hour after sunset in the southern sky
It’s a night sky spectacle you can’t afford to miss. As dusk falls this evening, the waxing Moon glows in the constellation Virgo, trailing just beyond its stunning encounter with Spica—one of the night sky’s brightest blue stars.
The Moon, now 82% full, has drifted 6.3 degrees southeast of Spica after a close encounter earlier today. Look to the south an hour after sunset, around 9:30 p.m. local time, for the best view as this celestial pair shimmers close above the horizon.
Stargazers are in for a treat as Spica—Virgo’s alpha star—gleams close to the ecliptic, offering a sparkling companion to the Moon’s silver glow. While this month’s Moon won’t pass directly in front of Spica, the duo’s alignment offers a rare sight easily enjoyed with the naked eye or binoculars.
Want more cosmic news? Check out regularly updated astronomy stories at Space.com and Sky & Telescope.
Q: Where and When Should You Look?
Set your sights on the southern sky, one hour after sunset (8:26 p.m. local time in central US). With the Moon rising at 4:22 p.m. and setting at 2:38 a.m., you have a prime window for observing. Virgo is easy to spot tonight—just hunt for the bright Moon and, a bit above and to its right, the piercing blue-white sparkle of Spica.
How to Find Corvus and Its Secret Double Star
Don’t stop with Virgo. To Spica’s lower right, scan for a simple quadrilateral shape—this is Corvus the Crow. Although it’s often overlooked, Corvus hides a gem: Delta Corvi (Algorab). Aim your small telescope about 14.5° southwest of Spica to find this striking double star pairing: a luminous blue-white primary and a fainter orange secondary. With a separation of 24 arcseconds, their contrasting colors are easily visible, even for novice observers.
Q: Why Is Spica So Special?
Spica shines as Virgo’s brightest sun, lying tantalizingly close to the ecliptic—the path the planets and Moon travel. This proximity means the Moon often sweeps past Spica, and sometimes even eclipses it from our vantage point. Tonight, their cosmic near-miss makes for compelling viewing and a reminder of the precise clockwork of our solar system.
How to Photograph the Moon-Spica Pair Like a Pro
A tripod-mounted smartphone or DSLR will do the trick. Use a short telephoto lens, keep the ISO low for clarity, and bracket your exposures to capture both the Moon’s detail and Spica’s pinpoint brilliance. For deep sky fans, Corvus’s double star makes a perfect target to add variety to your astro-photo haul.
For more tips and astronomical events, explore NASA, which offers resources for all levels.
Don’t let this celestial dance pass you by—grab your binoculars or telescope, head outside, and witness tonight’s stunning Moon-Spica alignment!
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Tonight’s Stargazing Checklist:
- Check the weather for clear skies
- Head outside one hour after sunset
- Find the Moon in Virgo, spot Spica nearby
- Scan south of Spica to explore Corvus and its double star
- Try some astrophotography for a memorable keepsake
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