After sunset on 13th September, there’s quite a sight in the west. The red planet, Mars will appear right alongside Spica which is the brightest star in the constellation of Virgo.
Use the above image as a guide. Astronomical images provided by SkySafari, a Simulation Curriculum Company, All rights reserved www.simulationcurriculum.com.
When and where to look:
7pm, 13th September on the western horizon.
Something Interesting
Spica’s light that you’re seeing has taken about 260 years to travel to Earth. Saturn reflects our Sun’s light which takes 1 hour or so to reach us. The Moon’s reflected sunlight takes a mere 1.5 seconds to reach us. So although they all may look quite close, there’s a big difference in how far each are away from us! Spica is 262 light years away and is in the Constellation of Virgo.
Want More Stargazing Tips?
There’s always something interesting happening in the night sky and country WA is the best place to catch all the action!