Today, the nearly Full Moon will pass close to the ruby-red star at the heart of the Scorpion, visible in the early-morning hours.

The Moon and Antares will be in close proximity in the southern sky early this morning. The Moon will pass just 0.3° south of Antares at 7 A.M. EDT. Observers can catch this celestial event when the Moon and Antares are highest in the south shortly after midnight on the 9th. The Moon's luminous glow will dominate the southern sky as it rapidly approaches the Full phase, which it will reach in a little over 24 hours.

During the early morning hours, stargazers will be able to see the Moon positioned just to the lower right of Antares. Antares, the alpha star of the Scorpion, shines at a magnitude of 1.1 and will remain visible even in the moonlit sky. The star's distinct red color is a result of its relatively cooler surface temperature of 6,000 F (3,300 C).

Spica, the 1st-magnitude star in Virgo that the Moon passed by last week, is now located far to the upper right of the Moon and Antares.

• Sunrise: 5:31 A.M.
• Sunset: 8:28 P.M.
• Moonrise: 8:30 P.M.
• Moonset: 4:31 A.M.
• Moon Phase: Waxing gibbous (99%)

*Times for sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset are provided in local time from 40° N 90° W. The Moon's illumination is indicated at 12 P.M. local time from the same location.