spica | EarthSky

Star chart: Big Dipper with pink arrows from handle to Arcturus and then to Spica.

Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica

If you only ever learn 1 star mnemonic, make it this one! Arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica to identify 2 of the sky's brightest stars.

A large, round, symmetrical ball of thousands of stars, so dense in the middle it appears solid white.

Look for amazing Omega Centauri, using Spica as a guide

Omega Centauri is the largest globular star cluster visible to the eye alone. In the spring, the star Spica can lead you to the giant globular cluster.

Green line with moon straddling the line and labeled star very close to its lower right.

See the moon near Spica on February 11

Spot the moon near Spica, the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden, after midnight and in the morning of February 11, 2023. Read more.

2 positions of moon along green ecliptic line, on each side of labeled star Spica.

See the moon near Spica this weekend

See the waning moon near Spica in Virgo this weekend. The bright star is near the moon late at night January 13 and 14, and in early morning January 14 and 15.

Crescent moon near Spica, both close to steeply slanted line of ecliptic in green.

Moon near Spica on December 18

Look for the waning crescent moon near Spica on the morning of December 18, 2022. Spica is the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden.

Slanted green line of ecliptic with 2 positions of moon and Spica near them.

Moon and Spica on November 20 and 21

Catch the old crescent moon and Spica before sunrise on November 20 and 21, 2022. Also look for the beautiful glow of earthshine on the thin crescent moon.

Spica near the moon August 3, 4 and 5

Look for Spica on the evenings of August 3, 4 and 5, 2022, shining near the moon. Spica is the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden.

Chart: Dot labeled Spica near green line of ecliptic with moon to its left and right.

Last quarter moon and Spica, mornings of January 24 and 25

See the moon and Spica on the mornings of January 24 and 25, 2022. The last quarter moon sidles up to the bright star in Virgo on these dates.

Conjuntion of the planet Venus with the star Spica at dusk.

Venus-Spica conjunction on September 5

The Venus-Spica conjunction happens closest to September 5, 2021 for North American skywatchers. But, around the world, try September 4 and 6, too.

Young moon, Venus, Spica: A chart showing them all on August 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, 2021.

Young moon, Venus, Spica west after sunset on August 9 to 13

A beautiful week for moon-watching ahead. Look west after sunset. Watch for the young moon, Venus, Spica on August 9 to 13, 2021.

Moon and Spica July 15, 16 and 17

As darkness falls these next several evenings - July 15, 16 and 17, 2021 - let the moon introduce you to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

Moon and Spica along the line of the ecliptic, positions for 3 days indicated.

Moon and Spica June 18, 19, 20

On June 18, 19 and 20, 2021 - as sunset closes the curtain on day, and the darkening sky reveals a myriad of far-off suns - look for the moon and Spica.

Star-hopping from the constellation Corvus to Spica, the constellation Virgo's 1st-magnitude star.

Moon and Spica on May 22 and 23

Spica is the brightest star in Virgo the Maiden. It's the star near the moon on May 22 and 23, 2021. Learn this star's place in starlore, here.

Arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica

Learn a phrase useful to sky watchers: Follow the arc to Arcturus and drive a spike (or speed on) to Spica.

Moon near star Spica on April 25

From around the world tonight, use the waxing gibbous moon to locate Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

Moon shing in betwee the two bright stars, Arcturus and Spica, on March 1, 2021.

Moon, star Spica on Mar 1, 2021

This evening - March 1, 2021 - look eastward before going to bed and you just might catch the bright waning gibbous moon and the star Spica over the horizon.

The moon shines north of the star Spica, and the moon's illuminated side points toward Venus.

Moon passes Spica on December 10, as Venus blazes below

The waning moon passes bright Spica - Virgo's sole 1st-magnitude star - before sunup on December 10, 2020. As viewed from across Earth that morning, the illuminated side of the moon points in the direction of brilliant Venus.

Moon between the bright stars Arcturus and Spica.

See moon, Spica before bedtime March 11

From around the world tonight, use the waning gibbous moon to locate Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo the Maiden.

Moon and Spica at late night in February 12 and 13, 2020.

Moon and Spica rise at late evening

You'll have to stay up late on February 12, 2020 to view the moon and star Spica - brightest light in the constellation Virgo - rising into your eastern sky.

Old moon to pass Spica, Mars, Mercury

Enjoy the morning spectacle over the next several mornings, as the waning crescent moon sweeps by the star Spica and then the planets Mars and Mercury.

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Follow the arc to Arcturus, then speed on to Spica

Look for amazing Omega Centauri, using Spica as a guide

See the moon near Spica on February 11

See the moon near Spica this weekend

Moon near Spica on December 18

Moon and Spica on November 20 and 21

Spica near the moon August 3, 4 and 5

Last quarter moon and Spica, mornings of January 24 and 25

Venus-Spica conjunction on September 5

Young moon, Venus, Spica west after sunset on August 9 to 13

Moon and Spica July 15, 16 and 17

Moon and Spica June 18, 19, 20

Moon and Spica on May 22 and 23

Arc to Arcturus, spike to Spica

Moon near star Spica on April 25

Moon, star Spica on Mar 1, 2021

Moon passes Spica on December 10, as Venus blazes below

See moon, Spica before bedtime March 11

Moon and Spica rise at late evening

Old moon to pass Spica, Mars, Mercury