Starwatch: see blood-red Antares pair with the silvery moon

Giant star in Scorpius belongs to class of poorly understood stars which vary in brightness

There is something glorious about seeing the silvery moon contrasted with the blood-red light of Antares, the giant star in Scorpius, the Scorpion. Tonight offers an excellent chance to see this pairing.

The chart shows the view looking south from London at midnight as 16 May becomes 17 May. The moon will be full with 99% of its visible surface illuminated. It will be about 3.5 degrees away from Antares (for reference the full moon itself measures about 0.5 degrees across).