Topline
For three successive nights, beginning Monday, June 16, the red planet Mars will be positioned next to the bright blue star Regulus, creating a rare contrast in colors in the night sky.
Key Facts
At their closest point, the two celestial bodies will appear to be just 0.7 degrees apart. That’s about the same as a little finger held at arm’s length against the night sky. As conjunctions go, that’s incredibly close.
To add to the spectacle, both Mars and Regulus will shine at 1.4 magnitude. Regulus is the 21st brightest star in the night sky. Although virtually equal in brightness, they differ dramatically in color.
The best time to catch Mars and Regulus will be just after twilight fades and the stars become visible.
Although the official moment of closest approach happens Monday night, the view on Tuesday will be nearly identical, with Wednesday also offering a similar view.
‘heart Of The Lion’ Meets The ‘god Of War’
Approximately 78 light-years from Earth, Regulus is hotter and younger than the sun, and it emits a blue-white light. Its name comes from Latin, meaning “little king.” The brightest star in the constellation Leo, “The Lion,” Regulus has been known since ancient times as the “heart of the Lion.” Now past its January peak brightness, Mars is the sole survivor of the “planet parades” of early 2025. Known as the Roman god of war, it’s been moving steadily closer to Regulus during June and will keep heading west across Leo in the coming nights.
Contrasting Colors
Although binoculars or a telescope will be required to appreciate the contrast in color between Mars and Regulus, it’s rare to have such an opportunity. A similar phenomenon can be observed by pointing a small telescope at the blue and red Albireo double star, located at the head of the swan in the Cygnus constellation. Another is the brilliantly colored stars of the Jewel Box Cluster (NGC 4755) visible from the Southern Hemisphere.
How The Musk-Trump Row Affects Mars
A Trump Administration plan to cut nearly 24% ($6 billion) from NASA’s budget would see the space agency repurposed to focus solely on landing astronauts on the moon and Mars before China, according to the BBC. However, NASA’s Artemis 3 mission, planned for 2027, to land astronauts on the moon utilizes a SpaceX Starship rocket. The row between Donald Trump and Elon Musk puts that in doubt. As part of the plan, which is expected to go before Congress, funding for science projects would be cut by nearly 50%, including the cancellation of NASA’s plans for a Mars Sample Return mission and its involvement in the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover.
