Spica (Alpha Virginis): Brightest Star in Virgo
Say hello to Spica, the bright bluish Alpha star of Virgo! This stunning star often appears close to the Moon and planets in the sky. Want to make sure you’ll see it? Let the Star Walk 2 app guide you right to it. Discover more about Spica and its upcoming celestial events.
Contents
- Spica facts
- How to find Spica?
- When to see Spica
- Virgo’s brightest star Spica is, in fact, 2 stars
- More facts about Spica
- What is Spica: bottom line
Spica facts
- Official names: Spica, Alpha Virginis, α Vir
- Alternative names: Azimech, Spica Virginis
- Catalog designations: 67 Virginis, HD 116658, HIP 65474, HR 5056
- Constellation: Virgo
- Star type: binary star system
- Right ascension: 13h 25m 11.58s
- Declination: −11° 09′ 40.8″
- Apparent magnitude: 0.98
- Mass: 11.43 solar masses (Spica A); 7.21 solar masses (Spica B)
- Luminosity: 20,512 L☉ (Spica A); 2,254 L☉ (Spica B)
- Radius: 7.47 solar radii (Spica A); 3.74 solar radii (Spica B)
- Surface temperature: 25,300 K (Spica A); 20,900 K (Spica B)
- Distance from the Earth: 250 light-years
- Orbital period: 4.0145 days
How to find Spica?
The blue-white star Spica in the constellation Virgo is bright enough (mag 1.0) to be seen with the naked eye. Here's what can help you find Spica’s location.
Use the Big Dipper
One way to locate Spica is by using the Big Dipper – one of the most recognizable star patterns in the sky. Extend the curve of the Big Dipper's handle to find Arcturus, and then continue the line roughly as far again to reach Spica. There’s a mnemonic rule to remember this technique: “Arc to Arcturus and spike to Spica”.
Use a star finder app
Another convenient way to find Spica is by using a stargazing app like Sky Tonight. It provides real-time information about celestial objects and their locations. With this free app, you can find Spica in a few simple steps:
- Open the app’s search bar and type “Spica.”
- Tap the blue target button to the right of the matching result. The app will show you the star's position on the sky map.
- Tap the blue compass button at the bottom right of the screen. The app will use your device’s location to align the screen image with the real sky above you.
- Follow the white arrow until you see Spica on the screen and in the real sky.
When to see Spica
As a part of a zodiac constellation, Spica can be seen in the sky during certain months. The best time to observe the star is from March to late June. Keep in mind that from mid-September to the end of October, the Sun visits Virgo, so Spica is in the sky during the daytime.
August 4, 2026: Venus midway between Regulus and Spica
On August 4, brilliant Venus (mag -4.3) will appear almost exactly midway between Regulus (mag 1.4) and Spica (mag 1.0), lying at about 27° from each star.
Look for the three objects forming a long line above the western horizon after sunset. The full alignment will be best visible from tropical and Southern Hemisphere locations. At mid-northern latitudes, Regulus will be very low or already below the horizon by the time the sky darkens.
| City | Best time (local) | Venus altitude | Regulus altitude | Spica altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York | Aug 4, 08:26 PM EDT | 17° | 5° | 24° |
| Los Angeles | Aug 4, 08:16 PM PDT | 20° | 5° | 29° |
| Singapore | Aug 4, 07:47 PM SGT | 34° | 9° | 56° |
| Delhi | Aug 4, 07:36 PM IST | 23° | 6° | 34° |
| Sydney | Aug 4, 05:54 PM AEST | 35° | 9° | 60° |
| Auckland | Aug 4, 06:16 PM NZST | 35° | 9° | 59° |
In New York and Los Angeles, Regulus will be very low in twilight, so observers will need an unobstructed western horizon and exceptionally clear skies.
August 17, 2026: Moon and Spica
- Close approach time: 10:33 GMT (6:33 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 2°14′
- Conjunction time: 12:31 GMT (8:31 AM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 2°27′
On August 17, the waxing crescent Moon will get close to Spica (mag 1.0). This event will be much better placed for observers in the Southern Hemisphere, where the pair will appear high in the evening sky. At mid-northern latitudes, they will be lower above the horizon and visible for a more limited time after sunset, while farther north they may be difficult to observe.
Westward from the Moon and Spica, you can see Venus (mag -4.5), the brightest planet in the evening sky. It will be especially eye-catching from the Southern Hemisphere, while northern observers may need a clear horizon to catch it before it sets.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Objects are too low to observe comfortably | — | — | — | — |
| New York | Aug 16, 08:22 PM EDT | 6.5° | 13° | 17° | 13° |
| Los Angeles | Aug 16, 08:05 PM PDT | 5.3° | 19° | 23° | 17° |
| Singapore | Aug 17, 07:35 PM SGT | 2.7° | 45° | 47° | 35° |
| Delhi | Aug 17, 07:24 PM IST | 3.3° | 25° | 27° | 21° |
| Sydney | Aug 17, 05:53 PM AEST | 2.9° | 51° | 52° | 39° |
| Auckland | Aug 17, 06:15 PM NZST | 3.5° | 49° | 51° | 38° |
For extra naked-eye targets, look for Arcturus (mag -0.05) and Antares (mag 1.0), glowing reddish in the evening sky. Southern observers can also enjoy Alpha Centauri (mag -0.3), one of the brightest stars visible from Earth.
August 18, 2026: Spica between Venus and the Moon
On August 18, Spica (mag 1.0) will appear between brilliant Venus (mag -4.5) and the waxing crescent Moon. The three will form a long, slightly curved chain in the constellation Virgo.
Look for them above the western horizon after sunset. Venus and the Moon will be easy to see with the naked eye, while Spica may take longer to appear as the twilight fades. The alignment will generally appear much higher from tropical and Southern Hemisphere locations.
| City | Best time (local) | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Aug 18, 08:40 PM BST | 8° | 9° | 6° |
| New York | Aug 18, 08:32 PM EDT | 16° | 14° | 10° |
| Los Angeles | Aug 18, 08:14 PM PDT | 24° | 20° | 15° |
| Singapore | Aug 18, 07:43 PM SGT | 51° | 44° | 33° |
| Delhi | Aug 18, 07:33 PM IST | 28° | 25° | 19° |
| Sydney | Aug 18, 06:03 PM AEST | 60° | 49° | 37° |
| Auckland | Aug 18, 06:26 PM NZST | 59° | 49° | 36° |
September 1–3, 2026: Venus near Spica
- Close approach time: September 2, 00:17 GMT (8:17 PM EDT on September 1)
- Close approach distance: 1°28′
- Conjunction time: September 3, 03:31 GMT (11:31 PM EDT on September 2)
- Conjunction distance: about 1°44′
From September 1 to 3, brilliant Venus (mag -4.6) will pass near Spica (mag 1.0). The pair will be close enough to fit easily within the field of view of typical binoculars.
Look for them above the western horizon after sunset. Venus will be immediately noticeable, but you may need to wait for the sky to darken before Spica becomes visible. The best evening to observe the pair will depend on your location. Venus and Spica will appear much higher from tropical and Southern Hemisphere locations.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Venus altitude | Spica altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Sep 1, 08:09 PM BST | 1.5° | 4° | 5° |
| New York | Sep 1, 08:08 PM EDT | 1.5° | 8° | 9° |
| Los Angeles | Sep 1, 07:54 PM PDT | 1.5° | 12° | 14° |
| Singapore | Sep 2, 07:38 PM SGT | 1.5° | 30° | 31° |
| Delhi | Sep 1, 07:17 PM IST | 1.5° | 16° | 17° |
| Sydney | Sep 2, 06:13 PM AEST | 1.5° | 36° | 36° |
| Auckland | Sep 2, 06:38 PM NZST | 1.5° | 36° | 35° |
From London, the pair will be extremely low in bright twilight and difficult to observe. Observers in New York, Los Angeles, and Delhi will need a clear western horizon.
For more naked-eye sights, scan the evening sky for Arcturus (mag -0.05) and reddish Antares (mag 1.0). From the Southern Hemisphere, Alpha Centauri (mag -0.3) is another prominent target.
September 13, 2026: Moon and Spica
- Close approach time: 19:39 GMT (3:39 PM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 2°12′
- Conjunction time: 21:35 GMT (5:35 PM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 2°25′
On September 13, the thin waxing crescent Moon will pass close to Spica (mag 1.0). The pair will be hard to observe from the Northern Hemisphere, as they will set almost together with the Sun. In the Southern Hemisphere, the Moon and Spica will appear relatively high in the evening sky and be much easier to spot.
Not far from the crescent Moon, Venus (mag -4.8) will shine as the brightest planet in the sky, adding to the beauty of the scene — especially for observers in the Southern Hemisphere.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, New York, Los Angeles | Objects are too low to observe comfortably | — | — | — | — |
| Singapore | Sep 14, 07:25 PM SGT | 8.1° | 27° | 22° | 28° |
| Delhi | Sep 14, 06:52 PM IST | 9.4° | 14° | 12° | 14° |
| Sydney | Sep 14, 06:11 PM AEST | 6.3° | 33° | 26° | 35° |
| Auckland | Sep 14, 06:37 PM NZST | 5.5° | 32° | 26° | 35° |
Additionally, look for Arcturus (mag -0.05), reddish Antares (mag 1.0), and Alpha Centauri (mag -0.3), one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
October 11, 2026: Moon and Spica
- Close approach time: 04:18 GMT (12:18 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 2°08′
- Conjunction time: 06:10 GMT (2:10 AM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 2°20′
On October 11, the extremely thin Moon (just past the New Moon phase) will pass close to Spica (mag 1.0). The event will be practically unobservable because both objects will lie very close to the Sun in the sky.
Better opportunities to see the Moon near Spica will come in the following months, when the pair appears farther from the Sun and higher in the sky before dawn.
November 7, 2026: Moon and Spica
- Close approach time: 11:29 GMT (6:29 AM EST)
- Close approach distance: 2°10′
- Conjunction time: 13:23 GMT (8:23 AM EST)
- Conjunction distance: 2°23′
On November 7, the thin waning crescent Moon will pass close to Spica (mag 1.0). Brilliant Venus (mag -4.5) will also shine very close to the Moon, about 1° away, and will be much easier to spot than Spica. The beautiful trio will appear low in the morning sky before sunrise — look for them with the naked eye or binoculars in the east-southeast.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Objects are too low to observe comfortably | — | — | — | — |
| New York | Nov 7, 06:04 AM EST | 2.6° | 11° | 12° | 12° |
| Los Angeles | Nov 7, 05:52 AM PST | 3.2° | 11° | 13° | 14° |
| Singapore | Nov 7, 06:24 AM SGT | 6.4° | 20° | 14° | 15° |
| Delhi | Nov 7, 06:12 AM IST | 5.4° | 18° | 14° | 14° |
| Sydney | Objects are too low to observe comfortably | — | — | — | — |
| Auckland | Objects are too low to observe comfortably | — | — | — | — |
Other bright objects will also be visible before dawn. Mars (mag 0.8) and Jupiter (mag -2.0) will shine higher in the morning sky; Arcturus (mag -0.05) and Regulus (mag 1.4) will be easy to spot among the surrounding stars.
December 4, 2026: Moon and Spica
- Close approach time: 17:17 GMT (12:17 PM EST)
- Close approach distance: 2°19′
- Conjunction time: 19:19 GMT (2:19 PM EST)
- Conjunction distance: 2°33′
On December 4, the waning crescent Moon will pass close to Spica (mag 1.0). Look for the pair in the morning sky before sunrise, above the east-southeastern horizon.
Brilliant Venus (mag -4.7) will also shine nearby, forming an almost straight line with the Moon and Spica. Venus will be much easier to spot than Spica, so you can use it — together with the crescent Moon — as a guide to find Virgo’s brightest star.
| City | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | Dec 4, 07:08 AM GMT | 5.7° | 25° | 24° | 24° |
| New York | Dec 4, 06:33 AM EST | 3.8° | 31° | 31° | 30° |
| Los Angeles | Dec 4, 06:15 AM PST | 2.9° | 34° | 35° | 32° |
| Singapore | Dec 5, 06:31 AM SGT | 4.1° | 39° | 42° | 35° |
| Delhi | Dec 5, 06:33 AM IST | 5.4° | 32° | 38° | 34° |
| Sydney | Dec 5, 05:08 AM AEDT | 1.9° | 28° | 27° | 20° |
| Auckland | Dec 5, 05:24 AM NZDT | 1.6° | 26° | 25° | 18° |
The predawn sky will offer more than just the Moon-Spica-Venus alignment. Look higher up for a close grouping of bright Jupiter (mag -2.2), reddish Mars (mag 0.4), and Regulus (mag 1.4). To the east, Arcturus (mag -0.05) will add another bright naked-eye target.
Virgo’s brightest star Spica is, in fact, 2 stars
Spica is not an individual star: it is a binary star system, that consists of two stars known as Spica A and Spica B. These stars orbit each other so close that they can’t even be resolved as two stars through a telescope. Also, their mutual gravity distorts them into an oval shape.
Spica A
With a diameter about 7.5 times that of the Sun, Spica A is the larger component of the system. It is a blue-white giant star that shines with a luminosity over 20,000 times that of the Sun. About 85% of the visible light from the system comes from Spica A.
Spica B
Spica B is smaller, with a diameter about 3.7 times that of the Sun. It is a blue-white main-sequence star, meaning it is still fusing hydrogen in its core. Although less massive and luminous than Spica A, it is still much larger and hotter than the Sun.
More facts about Spica
Brightest star in Virgo
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Also, it is ranked as the 15th brightest star overall (or 16th, if you count the Sun).
Ear of grain in Virgo’s hand
The name “Spica” comes from the Latin word for “ear of grain”, as it represents a single stalk of wheat held by Demeter – the goddess of agriculture in Greek mythology, which was associated with the constellation Virgo.
Guiding star
Spica is one of the 57 navigational stars used in the Air and Nautical Almanacs. Its brightness and easily recognizable position have made it useful for celestial navigation.
Part of the Spring Triangle and the Great Diamond
Spica is part of two asterisms: the Spring Triangle (along with Arcturus in the constellation Bootes and Regulus in the constellation Leo), and the Great Diamond (along with Arcturus in the constellation Bootes, Denebola in the constellation Leo, and Cor Caroli in Canes Venatici).
Lunar occultations of Spica come in cycles
Spica lies about 2° south of the ecliptic. Meanwhile, the Moon wanders about 5° north to 5° south of the ecliptic, returning to the same position every 18.6 years. That geometry creates long periods when the Moon passes just above or below Spica, followed by several months when it regularly passes in front of it, creating a cycle of lunar occultations*.
The last occultation cycle spanned from June 16, 2024, to November 17, 2025. And now, the Moon passes south of Spica each month. The next series of about 20 occultations (including partial and grazing occultations) will occur between February 12, 2031, and July 15, 2032. After that, the Moon will move north of Spica for several years before meeting the star again on January 4, 2043.
*A lunar occultation is when the Moon passes in front of a more distant celestial object, like a star or planet, and temporarily hides it from view in some regions of the Earth.
What is Spica: bottom line
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. The Moon and planets often pass close to the star – the upcoming events are listed in the "When to see Spica" section of this article. You can locate Spica by using the Big Dipper or stargazing apps, like Sky Tonight and Star Walk 2.
