Tonight's Sky
http://www.earthsky.org/radioshows/52046/moon-regulus-saturn-on-january-23Moon, Regulus, Saturn on January 23
Wednesday, January 23, 2008.
Tonight, around 9 or 10 o’clock, look eastward to see two bright points of light beneath the waning gibbous moon.
These bright objects are silvery-blue Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion
– and the golden planet Saturn, the farthest world that you easily see with the unaided eye.
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http://www.earthsky.org/radioshows/52046/moon-regulus-saturn-on-january-23Tonight, at mid-evening, look eastward to see two bright points of light beneath the waning gibbous moon.
These bright objects are silvery-blue Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo the Lion – and the golden planet Saturn, the farthest world that you easily see with the unaided eye. As the night passes, this heavenly lineup climbs upward, with Regulus and Saturn trailing behind the moon.
How can you tell Regulus from Saturn? Saturn is brighter, and, if you contrast it to nearby stars, you’ll notice Saturn shines with a steadier light. The moon, Regulus and Saturn soar highest in the sky after midnight in January, and shine in the west at morning dawn.
Regulus is the 21st brightest star, but it attracts more attention than many bright stars. That’s because Regulus routinely pairs up with the moon and planets on the dome of night. Regulus happens to be located on the pathway of the sun, moon and planets – called the ecliptic. So Regulus serves as a fixed reference for watching the motions of the moon and Saturn.
In contrast to the moon, Saturn moves at a snail’s pace across the dome of night. Even so, Saturn will noticeably edge closer and closer to Regulus in these early months of 2008, to be closest to this star in early May. For today, that’s our show. We’re Block and Byrd for Earth & Sky, a clear voice for science.
No matter where you live, you’ll see the moon closer to Regulus before dawn tomorrow than during the evening hours tonight. And, if you live in Indonesia, Australia or New Zealand, you can watch the moon occult – pass over – Regulus on Thursday night.