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drop stars - with the minds-eye. After just one day, you can easily note Venus' change of position in front of the constellation Leo. Watch as Venus swings by the star Rho Leonis on the mornings of October 8 and 9.
• For binocular astronomers: It'll be interesting to see how Venus and Regulus appear through binoculars on the morning they are closest, October 3, 2012. Binoculars enhance the view of any two close objects on the sky's dome.
• Bottom line: Venus and the bright star Regulus have been appearing close together in the east before dawn during this first week of October 2012. Get up early on Wednesday, October 3, to see them at their closest. This is the closest pairing of a planet and a first-magnitude star for the year 2012!