Starwatch: Mars draws close to Spica, Virgo's brightest star
by Stuart Clark from Science | The Guardian on (#4TM0H)
Conjunction takes place low towards the dawn horizon, making Mars slightly difficult to pick out
There's a pretty sight awaiting sky watchers in the morning skies towards the end of the week. Looking east, the planet Mars will be drawing close to Spica, the brightest star in the constellation Virgo, the virgin. The chart shows the view at 06:00 GMT on 9 November. Spica is one of the 20 brightest stars in the night sky, coming in at number 16. It is blue white in colour, and situated about 250 light years away, meaning that we see the star as it appeared 250 years ago.