A Celestial Dance Unfolds on July 3

Tonight, the cosmos offers a stunning visual treat as the waxing gibbous moon moves gracefully close to the dazzling star Spica in the southwestern sky. Some lucky observers will witness a breathtaking phenomenon: the moon will pass directly in front of this brilliant star, causing it to momentarily vanish from sight!

How to Spot This Spectacle

If you're in the U.S., don’t miss the chance to view this celestial dance as the sun sets. Look up to find the moon gleaming brightly, with Spica—Virgo's brightest star—located just under 2 degrees above and to the right of the lunar orb. To gauge distances in the sky, stretch out your hand; your pinky finger's width at the tip roughly equals 1 degree!

Timing is Everything

As minutes pass and the night deepens, watch as the moon drifts to the left of Spica before both dip below the horizon in the early hours of July 4.

Discover Spica: A Stellar Giant

Spica isn't just a lonely point of light—it's a binary star system situated an impressive 250 light-years away from Earth. This massive duo shines with a brilliance about 12,100 times greater than the sun! While the moon orbits our planet at an average distance of 238,860 miles (or 382,500 kilometers), its position can change by up to 2 degrees based on where you're looking from.

An Exclusive Event for Few

Only a fortunate fraction of people around the globe will have the privilege of witnessing this celestial occultation tonight, occurring shortly after 3:51 p.m. EDT (19:51 GMT). This celestial event will be best visible in regions like Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and parts of southern Chile and Argentina.

Don't Miss Out!

Prepare your telescopes and grab your friends for a spectacular evening under the stars—tonight promises to be a stellar show you won't want to miss!