Top astronomy articles of 2026
The astronomical story of 2026 includes the return of a total solar eclipse with the Artemis II mission, which aims to return humans to the moon in the future.
For stargazers and space enthusiasts who may have observed the first full moon of the year last week, another celestial event is just around the corner.
Tonight, bright stars will accompany and shine above the nearly full moon. The star, known as Regulus, is the brightest in the constellation Leo, one of the 12 constellations in the galaxy that share names with zodiac signs.
This star’s ascent is expected to occur in North America on the night of Tuesday, January 6, and here’s what you need to know to catch a glimpse of the constellation’s brightest star.
Where in the sky is Regulus?
Viewers will be able to catch a bright star just above the moon tonight as it rises. According to Space.com, the star should be easy to spot and shine brighter than the moon, but over time the moon may appear to be moving away from Regulus.
Stargazers in other parts of the world, including Eastern Europe, Asia and Russia, may also catch a glimpse of the moon passing in front of the star in a celestial event known as an occultation.
When will Regulus appear?
The star should shine brightly to observers around 8:50 p.m. local time, which is the best time for visibility, according to Space.com.
In addition to catching a glimpse of Regulus on Tuesday night, 2026 is shaping up to be a year full of big lunar events. A total lunar eclipse will occur in March and a partial lunar eclipse in parts of the world in August.
Kate Perez covers national trends and breaking news for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kperez@usatodayco.com or on Twitter @katecperez_.
