See the bright star Spica close to the waxing gibbous moon on July 3

A simulation of the night sky showing the moon close to Spica on the night of July 3. The locations of stars belonging to the constellation Virgo are arrayed above the moon’s disk, joined by a thin line, while those of libra can be seen to the left, with the constellation Corvus below. .

The moon will ride close to the bright star Spica above the southwestern horizon tonight (July 3) — and some well-placed viewers will see the lunar disk pass directly in front of the bright stellar body, occulting its light.

Stargazers in the U.S. will find the waxing gibbous moon above the southwestern horizon as the sun sets on July 3, with Spica — the brightest star in the constellation Virgo — visible less than 2 degrees to the upper right of the lunar disk.