Moon and Antares Align for a Mesmerizing Skywatching Event Tonight
On June 9, 2025, skywatchers were treated to a stunning celestial event as the waxing gibbous moon passed near Antares, the bright red star in the Scorpius constellation. This rare alignment offered a beautiful contrast between the moon's silver glow and Antares's deep red light, captivating observers worldwide.
image for illustrative purpose
Stargazers are in for a celestial treat tonight as the waxing gibbous moon makes a close approach to Antares, the brilliant red supergiant star in the constellation Scorpius. This striking alignment offers a captivating view for observers worldwide.
Tonight, June 9, the moon will appear remarkably close to Antares, often called the "Heart of the Scorpion." For those in the United States, the moon will climb high over the southeastern horizon after sunset, with Antares shining brightly approximately four degrees to its lower left. To visualize this distance, a little finger held at arm's length spans about one degree of the sky.
Antares, a colossal red supergiant, dwarfs our sun, boasting a diameter 700 times larger and shining nearly 10,000 times brighter. Scientists anticipate Antares will eventually explode in a spectacular supernova, though the timing remains uncertain, potentially occurring anytime from tomorrow to a million years from now.
While Antares is surrounded by dimmer stars, its prominence makes it easily identifiable within the Scorpius constellation, which also hosts intriguing deep-sky objects like the Messier 4 globular cluster and the Rho Ophiuchi stellar nursery.
Southern Hemisphere Witnessing Rare Occultation
As the night progresses, the moon will appear to draw even closer to Antares. By early morning on June 10, the star will set just above the moon's upper left side before both descend below the southwestern horizon.
A particularly special event awaits skywatchers in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically Australia, Tasmania, and Papua New Guinea. Here, the moon will perform a rare "occultation," passing directly in front of Antares and temporarily blocking its light. This phenomenon is set to begin at 4:47 a.m. EDT (0847 GMT), according to in-the-sky.org.
For those eager to capture this breathtaking display, resources are available for photographing the moon and exploring the cosmos with telescopes and binoculars.
Tonight's close encounter between our moon and the magnificent Antares serves as a powerful reminder of the awe-inspiring wonders regularly unfolding in our night sky.
