Sunrise Sunset

Fri., June 4 5:08 8:11

Sat., June 5 5:08 8:12

Sun., June 6 5:07 8:12

Mon., June 7 5:07 8:13

Tues., June 8 5:07 8:14

Wed., June 9 5:07 8:14

Thurs., June 10 5:06 8:15

Fri., June 11 5:06 8:15

The bright red planet Mars appears high in the western sky tonight, near the brilliant star Regulus. The two are a tight pair in the zodiacal constellation Leo. This is a good time to watch the movement of the planets.

Mars and Regulus will be less than one degree apart this weekend. In the nights that follow, they will begin to separate.

In a week, Mars will have relocated to another area of Leo, having passed by Regulus, moving east.

The movement of the planets along the zodiac is difficult to note when there are so many stars in so much space. But when a planet appears right next to a brilliant star, as is the case with Mars and Regulus, an observer can monitor the movement of a planet easily. Mars is 139 million miles away and moving around the sun. Regulus is 77 light years away and appears stationary.

Jupiter in the East

On Sunday morning, a thin crescent moon appears near the bright planet Jupiter in the eastern sky. Take a look an hour before sunrise in the southeastern sky. The two are in the zodiacal constellation Pisces.

M.A.L.