• As soon as darkness falls, look for the waxing crescent moon to swing close to a bright star, as it heads for the red planet Mars. That star is Regulus, the brightest in the constellation Leo, the star depicting the Lion's Heart.
• There are several telltale ways of knowing which light is Regulus and which is Mars. Tonight, on June 24, Regulus is the closer of the two to the moon. Regulus may sparkle or twinkle, as stars are apt to do, but Mars - like any planet - tends to shine with a steadier light. You can also distinguish Regulus from Mars by color. Regulus radiates blue-white while Mars glowers in a ruddy hue.
• Regulus wins acclaim as the most

important of the four Royal Stars of ancient Persia. These Royal Stars mark the four quadrants of the heavens. They are Regulus, Antares, Fomalhaut, and Aldebaran.
• Regulus: Heart of the Lion
• Four to five thousand years ago, the Royal Stars defined the approximate positions of equinoxes and solstices in the sky. Regulus reigned as the summer solstice star, Antares as the autumn equinox star, Fomalhaut as the winter solstice star, and Aldebaran as the spring equinox star. Regulus is often portrayed as the most significant Royal Star, possibly because it symbolized the height and glory of the summer solstice sun. Although the Royal Stars as seasonal signposts change over the long coarse of time, they still mark the four quadrants of the heavens.
• Regulus coincided with the summer solstice point some 4,300 years ago. In our

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