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.
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 mid- and high northern latitudes, 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 | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Singapore, Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 14, 7:25 PM | 8.1° | 27° | 22° | 28° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Sep 14, 6:52 PM | 9.4° | 14° | 12° | 14° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 14, 6:11 PM | 6.3° | 33° | 26° | 35° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 14, 6:37 PM | 5.5° | 32° | 26° | 35° |
Additionally, look for Arcturus (mag -0.05) and reddish Antares (mag 1.0). From the Southern Hemisphere and tropical northern latitudes, you may also spot Alpha Centauri (mag -0.3), one of the brightest stars in the night sky.
September 26, 2026: Mercury near Spica
- Close approach time: September 26, 08:05 GMT (4:05 AM EDT)
- Close approach distance: 0°53′
- Conjunction time: September 26, 00:33 GMT (September 25, 8:33 PM EDT)
- Conjunction distance: 0°59′
On September 26, Mercury (mag -0.2) will pass less than 1° from Spica (mag 1.0). The pair will fit easily within the field of view of typical binoculars.
Look for Mercury and Spica above the western horizon during evening twilight. Mercury will be the brighter of the two, while Spica may not become visible until the sky darkens. As a bonus, brilliant Venus (mag -4.8) will also shine in the same part of the evening sky, higher above the horizon and much easier to spot. The event will be best seen from tropical and Southern Hemisphere locations.
| City | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Mercury altitude | Spica altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | BST (UTC+1) | Not visible | — | — | — |
| New York, USA | EDT (UTC−4) | Not visible | — | — | — |
| Los Angeles, USA | PDT (UTC−7) | Not visible | — | — | — |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Not visible | — | — | — |
| Singapore, Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Sep 26, 7:20 PM | 0.9° | 13° | 12° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEST (UTC+10) | Sep 26, 6:19 PM | 0.9° | 15° | 15° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZST (UTC+12) | Sep 26, 6:46 PM | 0.9° | 15° | 15° |
From London, New York, Los Angeles, and New Delhi, Mercury and Spica will be too low to observe together once the sky becomes dark enough for Spica to appear.
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 waxing crescent 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 -4.6) 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 | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | Nov 7, 6:04 AM | 2.6° | 11° | 12° | 12° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | Nov 7, 5:52 AM | 3.2° | 11° | 13° | 14° |
| Singapore, Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Nov 7, 6:24 AM | 6.4° | 20° | 14° | 15° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Nov 7, 6:12 AM | 5.4° | 18° | 14° | 14° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | Not visible | — | — | — | — |
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 from mid-northern latitudes.
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 -4.8) will also shine nearby, forming an almost straight line with the Moon and Spica in Europe and North America. 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 | Time zone | Best time (local) | Separation | Moon altitude | Spica altitude | Venus altitude |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| London, UK | GMT (UTC+0) | Dec 4, 7:08 AM | 5.7° | 25° | 24° | 24° |
| New York, USA | EST (UTC−5) | Dec 4, 6:33 AM | 3.8° | 31° | 31° | 30° |
| Los Angeles, USA | PST (UTC−8) | Dec 4, 6:15 AM | 2.9° | 34° | 35° | 32° |
| Singapore, Singapore | SGT (UTC+8) | Dec 5, 6:31 AM | 4.1° | 39° | 42° | 35° |
| New Delhi, India | IST (UTC+5:30) | Dec 5, 6:33 AM | 5.4° | 32° | 38° | 34° |
| Sydney, Australia | AEDT (UTC+11) | Dec 5, 5:08 AM | 1.9° | 28° | 27° | 20° |
| Auckland, New Zealand | NZDT (UTC+13) | Dec 5, 5:24 AM | 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). From the Northern Hemisphere, look east for Arcturus (mag -0.05).
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.
