Starwatch: The moon to make close pass of the star Spica

Spica has a luminosity of about 12,000 times that of the Sun and a radius seven-and-a-half times larger

This week it is the turn of the almost full moon to make a close pass of the star Spica.

The chart shows the view looking south-east from London at 22:00 GMT on 26 March - the time when the celestial pairing will be rising. The moon became full on 24 March, but it still has 97.5% of its visible surface illuminated as it cruises past Spica.