June 7, 2025: Mars targets Regulus in the western sky after sunset. The Red Planet moves in for a conjunction later this month.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:16 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:24 p.m. CDT. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.
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Mars Targets Regulus
Mars appears to move closer to Regulus as their conjunction approaches on the 17th.
With Jupiter and Mercury in bright evening twilight, Mars is the lone bright planet in the evening sky. Step outside and hour after sundown and look westward. The Red Planet is about 30° above the west-southwest horizon and 5.4° to Regulus’ lower right, Leo’s brightest star.
Mars passes the star on the 17th. Mars and Regulus are separated by 0.8°, less than two full-moon diameters, on that evening.
Regulus is part of the Sickle of Leo, a half dozen stars that outlines the head of the Lion. It is the closest star to the ecliptic, the circle in the sky that defines the solar system’s plane. The moon and planets are reasonably frequent visitors and conjunctions are moderately narrow.
As Mars closes the gap to Regulus, use a binocular to track this approach. While both bodies are visible to the unaided eye, the binocular view helps with the scale.
Gibbous Moon, Zubenelgenubi
Farther eastward, the bright moon, 91% illuminated, is nearly 30° above the south-southeast horizon. It is 5.7° to the lower right of Zubenelgenubi, a star in Libra, though its name means “the southern claw,” showing its close association with Scorpius.
The Scorpion reaches westward as it climbs into the southeastern sky. Antares, the brightest star is over 10° above the horizon and nearly 30° to the moon’s lower left.
For sky watchers in Europe, northern Africa, and the Middle East, the lunar orb occults or eclipses Pi Scorpii (π Sco on the chart) on the 9th.
In this moonlight, use a binocular to see the moon and Zubenelgenubi, and to trace the Scorpion’s shape.
Venus, Saturn before Sunrise
During morning twilight, Venus shines brightly from the eastern horizon. Rising over two hours before daybreak, Venus is over 10° up an hour later. It is over 30° to Saturn’s lower left, which is nearly 25° above the east-southeast horizon.
Venus steps eastward quicker than Saturn and opens a wide gap to the Ringed Wonder. Appearing in front of Pisces, it is moving toward the Aries border. This morning, it is nearly 15° to Hamal’s lower right, the Ram’s brightest star. Venus passes in a wide conjunction in a week.
After sundown, watch Mars approach Regulus and look for Venus and Saturn before daybreak. The moon waxes toward the Full moon phase near the Scorpion.