Science
Skywatchers, March Out: Mars Aligns With Regulus While Venus Blazes Bright
See Venus at dawn, Mars and Regulus cuddling, a Saturn-Moon encounter, and the Milky Way in the world’s dark skies.
Ray Bradbury’s remarkable talent for fusing the fanciful with the profoundly human was all I could think about. (In case you haven’t heard of Bradbury, he is essentially the literary titan that elevated science fiction to a respectable level. Is Fahrenheit 451 familiar to you? The Chronicles of Mars? That’s our man. He introduced time machines and rocket ships into the world of “serious literature” while the literary elite was blind. By the time they realised what he had done, it was too late; his work had already won over everyone.
“We are an impossibility in an impossible universe,” he once wrote. And doesn’t that just hit you right in the existential sweet spot?
Somehow, despite being insignificant dots on a rotating rock, we are able to glance up and marvel about everything. I keep returning to this sensation as we begin this week’s skywatching activities: a deep appreciation for the wonder, the splendour, and yes, the honour of seeing the universe come to life above us. Whether you consider it a natural wonder or a creation of God, gazing into the great unknown is incredibly humbling.
Stars are waiting – let’s roll!
1. Waning Gibbous Moon (June 13)
A near-full moon hanging in the twilight sky has a very spectacular quality. On the 13th, our lunar neighbour is serving us some major celestial drama with 97% illumination. This waning gibbous phase, albeit not technically full, shows highland areas and crater details that are frequently obscured during the full phase.
Why should you give a damn? Because the moon is showcasing its finest qualities here! Consider it the lunar counterpart of ideal golden-hour illumination, as the shadows cast by the craters produce a breathtaking three-dimensional appearance.
When to Watch:
- Time: Just after sunset until early morning
- Direction: Rising in the eastern sky
Pro Tip: Even with simple binoculars, the shadows along the terminator—the boundary between light and dark—make for breathtaking views. This is your chance to perform a serious moongaze if you haven’t already.
2. An Anniversary Worth Noting (June 13)
In relation to June 13th, consider this brief cosmic viewpoint: Pioneer 10 became the first man-made object to travel this far when it stealthily passed through Neptune’s orbit on this day in 1983. What a cosmic achievement! This overachiever, which was launched in 1972 with a modest 21-month mission plan, continued to communicate with Earth for more than thirty years, with its final “hello” coming to us in 2003.
At a distance of more than 20.5 billion kilometres from Earth, Pioneer 10 is still in orbit today. It is one of five spacecraft on trajectories that will eventually take them into interstellar space, along with Pioneer 11, Voyagers 1 and 2, and New Horizons. Wandering forever among the stars are our tiny mechanical messengers.
3. Mars & Regulus Get Cozy (June 16-17)
This is the pinnacle of heavenly chemistry. The brightest star in Leo, Regulus, will dance gracefully with Mars at a distance of 0.8 degrees, which is less than the breadth of your pinky finger at arm’s length.
Why should you give a damn? The contrast of colours is striking. The rusty-copper glow of Mars with the bright white-blue glow of Regulus. Together, the two produce an artistically stunning and scientifically engaging visual treat.
When to Watch:
- Time: After sunset for several hours
- Direction: Western sky in the Leo constellation
4. Moon & Saturn Morning Meetup (June 19)
When the third-quarter Moon snuggles up to ringed Saturn in the pre-dawn sky on the 19th, you’re in for a true celestial treat if you’re prepared to give up some sleep. In Aquarius, their closeness produces one of those “wow” moments that prompt even infrequent skywatchers to grab their phones and take a photo.
When to Watch:
- Time: Around 1:30 a.m. local time
- Direction: Eastern sky
- What you’ll see: Third-quarter moon positioned near Saturn
Pro Tip: Saturn’s rings, which are currently tilted at an angle that provides a breathtaking perspective, can be seen using a telescope. This one is worth the early wake-up call, so set your alarm.
5. Venus: The Morning Glory (All Week)
As the “Morning Star,” Venus is currently outshining everything else in the pre-dawn sky and rising around two hours before the sun. You just can’t miss it if you’re an early riser (or haven’t gone to bed yet, I don’t judge).
When to Watch:
- Time: 2-3 hours before sunrise
- Direction: Eastern horizon
Pro Tip: Because Venus is so brilliant, it is frequently visible in twilight before other stars do. To orient oneself to the morning sky, use it as your anchor point.
6. Constellation Spotlight: Leo the Lion
Because to the Mars-Regulus conjunction this week, Leo is having a great time. One of the few constellations that truly looks like what it is meant to be—a lion—complete with the characteristic “sickle” that forms the lion’s head and mane is this magnificent one.
Locating Leo is simple: locate the sickle, or backward question mark, with Regulus as the dot at the bottom. The lion’s hindquarters are formed by the bright triangle of stars to the east. You also get an extra beacon that points you in the direction of Regulus, which Mars is visiting this week.
7. Deep Sky Delights
Although the moon and planets usually garner the most attention, there are a number of amazing deep-sky phenomena that are worth seeing this week:
- The Milky Way Core: As our galaxy’s centre rises, late-night watchers are treated to one of astronomy’s most spectacular views: a dense ring of stars, dust, and gas. It’s worth the drive, but you’ll need black skies away from city lights.
- M13 Hercules Globular Cluster: High overhead in the evening, this ancient ball of thousands of stars looks like a fuzzy cotton ball to the naked eye, but explodes into a dazzling sphere through even modest telescopes.
- Beehive Cluster (M44): This open star cluster in Cancer is stunning to view via binoculars after sunset.
You only have to look up to see the amazing show the cosmos is putting on. When you look at these heavenly beauties, keep in mind that you are engaging in the same activity that has fascinated people for thousands of years. That strikes me as having a deep connection, don’t you?
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