March 28-30, 2026: The gibbous moon moves in front of Leo, passing near Regulus and Denebola in the east-southeast sky after sunset.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Venus as an Evening Star
Leo’s Spring Location
During early spring evenings, Leo is in the east-southeast, following the bright stars of winter, now in the western sky, on their nightly westward march. This pattern is easy to recognize as the silhouette of a westward-facing Lion. The head is outlined by a half dozen stars marking a backward question mark, known as the Sickle of Leo, an agricultural cutting tool. Regulus, the constellation’s brightest star, is in the handle of the sickle. The haunches and tail, marked by Denebola, are outlined by a triangle.
The moon is now in front of Leo, muting its outline. Use a binocular to trace the sickle and the triangle.
Highlights:
Here is what to see an hour after sunset:
- • March 28: The bright gibbous moon, 83% illuminated, is over halfway from the east-southeast horizon to overhead. It is 10.0° to Regulus’ upper right.
- • March 29: After an occultation visible across most of Europe, northern Africa, and northeastern Canada, the lunar orb, 91% illuminated and halfway up in the east-southeast, is 3.5° to Regulus’ lower left.
- • March 30: Nearing the Full Moon phase, the moon is 96% illuminated. It is over 30° above the east-southeast horizon, over 15° to Regulus’ lower left, and nearly 15° to the lower right of Denebola.
As it passes Regulus, watch the moon appear farther eastward each night as it approaches the Full Moon phase.
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