GoKawiilSometimes the stars align in fascinating ways, making stargazing extra rewarding. One such example is the Spring Triangle, formed each spring by the stars Arcturus, Spica and Regulus. This bright triangle becomes visible in late March and lingers in the sky through spring and much of summer.
This all works out because of how constellations appear to move -- or more accurately, because of how the Earth moves around the Sun, which changes the constellations visible in the night sky. Arcturus, Spica and Regulus are three of the brightest stars in the sky and belong to the constellations Boötes, Virgo and Leo, respectively. As the Earth continues its orbit, these three constellations come into view together in the night sky shortly after the the spring equinox, giving the Spring Triangle its name.
That should give skygazers plenty of time to check them out, especially if they're already out looking at something else, such as April's Pink Moon or the series of upcoming meteor showers in 2026.
The Spring Triangle is made up of Arcturus, Spica and Regulus. The trio forms a triangle in the night sky Stellarium.org
How to find the Spring Triangle
To find the Spring Triangle in the Northern Hemisphere, you'll want to wait until around 10 p.m. local time for the stars to rise over the eastern and southern horizon. The next step is to identify the stars, and then simply envision the imaginary lines that would form the triangle.
If you have trouble finding them, you can use an app such as Star Walk on Android and iOS, or a web-based map such as Stellarium.org or Time and Date's Sky Map. Arcturus is arguably the easiest of the three to see since it's the fourth brightest star in the night sky. Spica and Regulus are 16th and 21st, respectively.
The triangle will streak across the southern sky over the course of the night, so if you get out later, you'll want to look more southward than eastward. Regulus sets on the western horizon just before dawn, so if you're an early bird, you'll want to look toward the southwestern or western skies to see it.
Another version of the Spring Triangle exists with Denebola instead of Regulus, which forms a more symmetrical triangle. Stellarium.org
A second Spring Triangle
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