You'll find the bright moon near the star Spica and the planet Saturn on the evening of May 31, 2012. Although both Spica and Saturn shine brightly, they'll be harder than usual to see tonight because of the lunar glare. Can you see them? Binoculars might help, if you have them.

The moon is in a waxing gibbous phase. It's getting big in the sky, heading toward the June 4 partial lunar eclipse. That's the morning of June 4 for the Americas, the evening of June 4 for Asia.

Saturn, the sixth planet outward from the sun, will shine in front of the constellation Virgo until almost the

end of 2012. Blue-white Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, contrasts beautifully with golden Saturn, the most distant world that you can easily see with the unaided eye.

When the moon drops out of the early evening sky around the second week of June 2012, be sure to savor the beauty of these colorful celestial gems in the darkness of night.

SPICA IS A WHIRLING DOUBLE STAR

Earth passed between Saturn and the sun on April 15 of 2012. That was Saturn's

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