المملكة: The conjunction of the waning gibbous moon with the star Leo Heart adorns the sky of the Arab world
Clarified President of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah, Engineer Majid Abu Zahra: The sky of the Arab world is witnessing this evening, Tuesday, January 6, 2026, a remarkable astronomical phenomenon that can be easily observed with the naked eye, as the waning gibbous moon is coupled with the star Leo Heart, the brightest star of the Leo constellation, in a celestial scene that combines visual beauty and scientific value.
Abu Zahra explained that Astronomical conjunction means the appearance of two celestial bodies that are apparently close together in the sky from the perspective of a terrestrial observer, even though the actual distance between them is very vast; The Moon is on average about 384 thousand kilometers away from Earth, while the Leo Heart star is located at a distance of approximately 79 light years, which confirms that this convergence is merely an optical alignment resulting from the different locations of objects in space.
He pointed out that the star Lionheart is considered one of the stars of the first magnitude, that is, one of the brightest stars in the sky. It is a blue-white star of the B7 spectral category. Its mass is approximately 3.5 times greater than the mass of the Sun, while its luminosity exceeds the luminosity of the Sun by more than 300 times. This star is also characterized by its rapid rotation around its axis, which gives it an oblate shape at the equator, which is an important physical feature that distinguishes some massive stars.
The President of the Astronomical Society in Jeddah confirmed that the astronomical importance of the Lion’s Heart is also due to its location close to the apparent annual path of the sun known as the ecliptic, which is the same path within which the sun, moon, and planets move in the sky. For this reason, the Moon’s conjunctions with this star are repeated throughout the year, and in rare cases the phenomenon of occultation may occur, where the Moon passes in front of the star and temporarily obscures it from observers in specific geographical areas of the Earth.
Abu Zahra touched on the historical and cultural dimension of the star, explaining that the lion’s heart had a special place among ancient civilizations, as its name was associated with meanings of strength, royalty, and courage. The Greeks called it the “Royal Star,” while the Arabs knew it as the “Heart of the Lion,” in direct reference to its location in the chest of the Leo constellation. Some ancient civilizations attributed major meanings to its conjunctions with the moon or planets, which are symbolic and historical interpretations that are not based on scientific foundations approved in modern astronomy.
He added that the star Leo Heart is also known astronomically as “The Lion’s Thousand,” and it is considered the most prominent of the so-called “sickle-shaped” stars within the constellation Leo. When looking at this star with five stars adjacent to it, a sickle-like star pattern is formed, and the lion’s heart represents the tip or handle of this shape, which makes it an important guidepost for easily locating the constellation in the sky.
During this conjunction, the waning gibbous moon will appear glowing next to Leo’s heart, in a scene that can be clearly seen from areas relatively far from light pollution. Astronomical binoculars or small telescopes will also help highlight the brightness of the star and its color contrast compared to the brightness of the moon, which enriches the observation experience and gives it a deeper scientific dimension.
Abu Zahra concluded his speech by emphasizing that such phenomena are a unique educational opportunity for astronomers and those interested, as they help track the orbital movement of the moon and understand the daily changes in its position relative to the stars, which is one of the basic pillars of observational astronomy. Although the Moon’s conjunction with Leo’s Heart is a relatively frequent event from a scientific standpoint, it remains an attractive celestial spectacle that draws attention and reflects the accuracy and regularity of the laws governing the movement of celestial bodies.
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