For stargazers, June brings a stunning celestial show. Mars and Regulus will appear side by side for three nights.
From Monday, June 16, a rare colour contrast begins. Mars, glowing red, will sit near blue-white Regulus. Both will shine at 1.4 magnitude brightness.
Close Conjunction Delights Observers
At their closest, Mars and Regulus sit just 0.7 degrees apart. That’s about a little finger’s width at arm’s length. It's one of the year's tightest planetary conjunctions.
Regulus, 78 light-years away, belongs to Leo constellation. Known as the “heart of the Lion”, it's the 21st brightest star. Mars, the Roman god of war, continues its journey westward.
Both planets will remain visible after twilight. The best view is after the sky darkens fully. Tuesday and Wednesday will offer nearly the same sight.
Colours Contrast in the Night Sky
Though equally bright, their colours differ sharply. Mars glows red-orange; Regulus appears blue-white. Through binoculars or a telescope, the contrast becomes clearer.
This event recalls other colourful duos, like Albireo. That star pair shows red and blue hues in Cygnus. The Jewel Box Cluster in the Southern Hemisphere offers similar beauty.
Mars, NASA and Budget Cuts Collide
While Mars glows above, tensions rise below. The Trump administration proposes major NASA budget cuts. Plans show a 24% drop, nearly $6 billion.
Science funding could face cuts of up to 50%. This threatens Mars Sample Return and ExoMars missions. The Artemis 3 moon mission also hangs in the balance.
That mission uses SpaceX’s Starship rocket. A public row between Trump and Elon Musk casts doubt. NASA may be forced to focus solely on Mars and the moon.
For now, Mars watches silently from above. Its celestial dance with Regulus offers a rare moment of peace.
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