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 star facts: what is Spica?
- Spica constellation: 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 star facts: what is Spica?
- 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: 1.0
- Mass: 11.43 solar masses
- Luminosity: 20,512 L
- Radius: 7.47 solar radius
- Surface temperature: 20,900 K
- Distance from the Earth: 250 light-years
- Rotation period: 4 days
Spica constellation: 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.
Observe Spica next to the Moon
Spica sits very close to the ecliptic – the Sun’s yearly path across the sky – so the Moon and planets often pass near it. Sometimes the Moon even covers Spica; that brief hide‑and‑seek is called an occultation.
In November 2025, the current cycle of Spica occultations ends. The next cycle will start on February 12, 2031. From that date on, the Moon will pass directly over the star each month, as seen from some locations in the world.
Why are there occultation cycles? Spica lies about 2° south of the ecliptic. Meanwhile, the Moon wanders about 5° north to 5° south of the ecliptic, completing a cycle 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 series of occultations.
The current occultation cycle runs from June 16, 2024, to November 17, 2025. After it ends, the Moon will begin passing south of Spica each month. The next series of about 20 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.
Now, let’s take a look at the upcoming events featuring Spica.
November 2: Venus and Spica
- Close approach time: 08:04 GMT
- Close approach distance: 3°30'
On November 2, bluish Spica (mag 1.0) will meet bright Venus (mag -3.9) in the morning sky. Look for the objects on the eastern horizon before sunrise. They will be visible to the naked eye. Glowing Venus and Spica, the crown jewel of Virgo, offer a perfect opportunity for a twilight photo.
You can often see bright dots near the Moon. Apart from Spica, these could be other bright objects, such as Venus or Jupiter. To stay updated on when the Moon meets the planets, read our dedicated article.
You can also check the “Events” tab in the Sky Tonight’s calendar from time to time: there, you can find a lot of useful information about everything that happens in the night sky (watch our video and see for yourself).
November 17, 2025: Moon and Spica; lunar occultation of Spica – the last one until February 12, 2031!
- Occultation start: 08:59 GMT
- Occultation end: 10:40 GMT
- Close approach time: 10:01 GMT
- Close approach distance: 1°54'
- Conjunction time: 12:25 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 2°06'
On November 17, 2025, the 7.9%-illuminated Moon will appear close to Spica (mag 1.0) in the night sky. You can enjoy this sight with the naked eye or binoculars in the constellation Virgo. As a special bonus, the last lunar occultation of Spica in six years will occur! It will only be visible from some parts of South America and Antarctica. The next occultation of Spica will take place on February 12, 2031. Afterward, the Moon’s path will shift south of Spica each month, and the star won’t be hidden by the Moon again until 2031.
To find out if the Spica occultation will be visible from your area, open the event in the Sky Tonight app’s calendar – you’ll see the local visibility times or a note indicating that the event won’t be visible from your location.
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
Spica A is the larger and more massive star of the pair. It is a blue-white giant star that shines with a luminosity over 2,000 times that of our Sun: 80% of the light in the star system comes from Spica A. With a diameter approximately 10 times larger than the Sun, Spica A is an impressive celestial body.
Spica B
Spica B is a smaller and less massive component of the star system. It is a blue-white main-sequence star, meaning it is still in the process of burning hydrogen in its core. Although smaller than Spica A, Spica B is still seven times larger than our 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 listed among 57 navigational stars. Due to its brightness and proximity to the ecliptic, Spica is often used as a navigational reference point for spacecraft and satellites.
Part of the Spring Triangle and the Great Diamond
Spica is part of the 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).
What is Spica: bottom line
Spica is the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. The star often passes close to the Moon and planets – the next 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.
