June offers plenty for skywatchers, including a detailed meeting between Venus and Jupiter, a rare event where the Moon passes in front of Venus, the arrival of astronomical summer, and the return of some favorite deep-sky targets.
Skywatching Highlights
- June 9: Venus and Jupiter conjunction
- June 11-15: Mercury joins Venus and Jupiter after sunset
- June 17: Moon passes in front of Venus & close Moon and Venus pairing
- June 21: June solstice & start of astronomical summer
- June: Summer Triangle and deep-sky observing targets rise into view
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Venus and Jupiter Shine Together After Sunset
In the course of the first half of June, look toward the western horizon shortly after sunset to identify Venus and Jupiter. The 2 brightest planets visible within the evening sky will appear especially close together around June 9.
This event is often called a planetary conjunction. Although the planets remain thousands and thousands of miles apart in space, they seem near one another from Earth’s perspective.
A number of days later, from June 11 through June 15, Mercury joins Venus and Jupiter low within the western sky, creating an attention-grabbing lineup of three planets.
The explanation these gatherings occur is that the planets orbit the Sun along an analogous path across our sky called the ecliptic. As they move along this shared track, they occasionally appear clustered together when viewed from Earth.
Venus might be the best object to identify due to its exceptional brightness. Jupiter will shine nearby, while Mercury will sit much lower toward the horizon. A transparent view of the western sky will help observers catch Mercury before it disappears into the twilight glow.
Moon Passes in Front of Venus
One other highlight arrives on June 17, when the Moon passes directly in front of Venus for observers in certain locations.
This phenomenon is known as a lunar occultation. For those inside the viewing path, Venus will seem to fade behind the Moon before emerging again later.
The occultation might be visible from parts of the USA, Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela. Even outside the narrow path where Venus is totally covered, many observers will still see the Moon and Venus appearing unusually close together within the sky.
For some locations, this event will occur during sunlight hours. Anyone attempting to watch it should use caution.
Don’t point binoculars, telescopes, or cameras near the Sun unless proper solar safety equipment is getting used. Viewing the Sun through optical equipment without appropriate protection could cause severe eye damage.
Summer Solstice Marks the Start of Astronomical Summer
June also brings the summer solstice.
Within the Northern Hemisphere, the June solstice marks the official starting of astronomical summer. In Pacific time, it occurs on Sunday, June 21 at 1:24 a.m.
The solstice is related to the longest days and shortest nights of the yr across the Northern Hemisphere.
Interestingly, the longest day of the yr doesn’t necessarily coincide with the earliest sunrise or latest sunset. In Los Angeles, for instance, the earliest sunrise occurs before the solstice, while the most recent sunset takes place afterward.
Summer Triangle and Deep Sky Objects Return
As darkness falls later within the month, summer’s classic stargazing targets begin taking center stage.
Certainly one of the best seasonal landmarks to search out is the Summer Triangle, a big pattern formed by the brilliant stars Vega, Altair, and Deneb.
Inside and around this region lie several popular deep-sky objects, including the Dumbbell Nebula, the Ring Nebula, the North America Nebula, and the Veil Nebula.
The Dumbbell Nebula, also often called Messier 27, holds a special place in astronomy history as the primary planetary nebula ever discovered.
Unlike shiny planets, these objects are generally too faint to face out with the naked eye. Through telescopes or long-exposure photography, nevertheless, they reveal spectacular details including glowing clouds of gas, dying stars, and stellar nurseries scattered throughout our galaxy.
June’s combination of shiny planets, a rare lunar occultation, the summer solstice, and returning deep-sky treasures makes it a wonderful month to spend time under the night sky.