Sun-Regulus Conjunction Marks Bright Star’s Shift from Evening to Morning Sky

Jeddah: The annual conjunction of the Sun and the bright star Regulus occurs today, bringing the two into apparent close alignment at nearly the same celestial longitude. Regulus is completely obscured by the Sun's glare and is not visible from Earth. According to Saudi Press Agency, Head of the Jeddah Astronomy Society Majed Abu-Zahra noted that Regulus is one of the brightest stars in the constellation Leo and lies close to the ecliptic. As a result, the Moon, planets, and Sun can pass relatively close to it during recurring celestial conjunctions. Located about 79 light-years from Earth, Regulus is a multiple-star system. Its primary component is a hot blue-white star with a higher temperature than the Sun. Abu-Zahra explained that the conjunction marks Regulus' transition from the evening sky to the morning sky. During the first days of September, the star will reappear low above the eastern horizon before sunrise and gradually move farther from the Sun's glare. The Sun appears to move eastward along the ecliptic by about one degree per day. As a result, the angular separation between the Sun and Regulus increases in the days following the conjunction. By the September equinox, Regulus becomes more prominent and easier to observe in the pre-dawn sky. About six months later, Regulus returns to the evening sky and becomes one of the prominent stars of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, Abu-Zahra said. At that time, it appears high in the night sky and forms part of the season's prominent stellar landmarks.