The Moon and Regulus conjunct in 2026: details of the phenomenon and how to observe it
The skies of Saudi Arabia and the Arab world will witness a remarkable astronomical phenomenon this evening, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, attracting the attention of both amateur and professional astronomers. The waning gibbous moon will be visible in the night sky alongside Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. This event presents an ideal opportunity for astrophotography and naked-eye observation under clear winter weather conditions.
Details of the astronomical phenomenon
The head of the Jeddah Astronomical Society, Engineer Majid Abu Zahra, explained that this conjunction represents a beautiful apparent alignment, where the two celestial bodies appear close together in the sky as seen from Earth. He pointed out that this apparent closeness is an optical illusion resulting from the angle of view, as the actual distance between them is vast; the Moon is only about 384,000 kilometers away from us, while Regulus (the bright star) lies deep in space at a distance of approximately 79 light-years.
Amazing facts about the star Heart of the Lion
Regulus, the bright star in Leo, possesses unique physical properties that have made it a subject of great interest to scientists. It is a first-magnitude star with a bluish-white color. Its mass is about 3.5 times that of our Sun, while its luminosity is approximately 360 times greater. One of the most fascinating facts about this star is its incredibly rapid rotation, completing one rotation in less than 16 hours. This results in an oblate shape at the poles and a bulge at the equator. If its rotation speed were to increase even slightly, the star would be torn apart, and its material would scatter into space.
Historical and cultural dimension: One of the royal stars
This phenomenon holds cultural and historical significance that transcends its purely astronomical dimension; Regulus (the Heart of Leo) was considered sacred by ancient civilizations. The ancient Persians recognized it as one of the "Four Royal Stars," used to divide the year and define the seasons, with Regulus being the guardian of the northern sky and associated with the summer solstice in bygone eras. The Arabs named it "Qalb al-Asad" (Heart of the Lion) because of its location in the central region of the constellation, and they relied on it to determine the timing of weather patterns and agricultural seasons.
Observation indicators and star location
Regulus lies almost on the ecliptic, the apparent path the Sun, Moon, and planets take across the sky. This strategic location makes it prone to frequent conjunctions with the Moon, and very rarely, it can experience an occultation, where the Moon passes in front of it, briefly obscuring it completely. Observers can easily locate Regulus by looking for the inverted sickle or question mark shape that characterizes the constellation's head, with Regulus at the bottom point of this shape.
Abu Zahra concluded his remarks by emphasizing that observing such phenomena enhances astronomical awareness in society and provides live educational material for students and those interested in understanding the movement of celestial bodies, the monthly cycle of the moon, and how the positions of stars change in relation to the moon night after night.
