Quick links to various main topics in my blog

Having made that choice, we can start at the beginning of the current precessional cycle (Winter Solstice 10880BC) and see if there's anything interesting going on.

At this time, the Sun's winter solstice point was where its summer solstice point is today - ie above Orion, between Gemini and Taurus.

Now the Sun has exactly one conjunction with any star on the ecliptic every year - because the Sun appears to travel around the ecliptic exactly once per year.

Regulus is the first bright star the Sun will pass after the 10880BC Winter Solstice, about 2 months later. If I wind forward the time from Winter Solstice, I notice that there's a triple conjunction in the offing, which takes place 52 days after WS:

10880BC Triple Conjunction in Leo, 52 days after Winter Solstice

Is this significant? It's not really that close to Regulus (about 13° away).

The Sun's going to get a lot closer to Regulus over the next week or so, but by that time Mercury will be well on its way to its maximum eastern elongation (ie distance away from the Sun) and won't be part of the conjunction any more.

Venus, like Mercury, is within Earth's orbit so it doesn't ever stray that far from the Sun - more than Mercury does though - Venus can get up to 45° away whereas Mercury can manage only about 24°. It moves more slowly, and by its position relative to the Sun I can tell it's going to get closer to it the next few weeks pass, so it'll still be in the right area.

Jupiter moves far more slowly and in a different way (further away, and it's outside Earth's orbit rather than insider it), so I can tell it'll pretty much stay put and the Sun (and Venus) will get closer to it as the Sun itself heads towards Regulus.

Which all means that when the Sun is near Regulus it's going to still be conjunct with Venus and Jupiter. The Moon won't be involved though, it's approaching full and will be on the opposite side of the sky.

Here's a QT Movie - try stepping through it frame by frame to get an idea of what's happening.

Conjunctions are frequent, but the higher the number of planets involved and the closer their separation the less common the event.

It is worth seeing when the most remarkable ones occur though, and I'll have a go at that (it will take some time!).
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simon