Read our June sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Pegasus is a large summer constellation that rises in the east at sunset and moves towards the zenith over the course of the night. Best views will be just before dawn when it is at its highest point. It rises a little earlier each night as the month continues. Pegasus contains four bright stars that make up the summer asterism The Great Square of Pegasus.
Hercules begins the night high in the sky near the zenith, before setting towards the west. Best views will be just after sunset when it is at its highest in the sky. This constellation is faint and is the largest modern constellation with no stars brighter then apparent magnitude +2.5.
Cepheus is a circumpolar constellation, and can be seen all night. It can be found in the northern sky and does not move a lot during the night. Next door is the bright constellation of Cassiopeia.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 7th, at highest altitude on the 9th, dichotomy (half-phase) on the 18th, greatest eastern elongation on the 22nd, and aphelion on the 27th.
Venus is too close to the Sun to be seen this month.
Mars can be seen in the early hours of the morning above the eastern horizon. It rises earlier at the end of the month, as does the Sun, meaning it can be seen later. Best views will be just before dawn when it is at its highest point. Mars will be in conjunction with the Moon on both the 1st and the 30th, and in conjunction with Uranus on the 15th.
Jupiter rises in the early hours of the morning on the north eastern horizon. At the beginning of the month the Sun rises shortly after, so Jupiter will not be visible. Best views will be at the end of the month just before dawn, where it can be seen for about 3 hours. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on both the 3rd and the 31st.
Saturn moves across the southern sky during the night. At the beginning of the month it rises about midnight and disappears at its highest in the south at sunrise. Best views will be at the end of the month, when it can be seen all night. Saturn will undergo lunar occultation on the 24th.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen low in the eastern sky and stays close to Jupiter this month, with better views towards the end of the month when it rises earlier. Uranus will be in conjunction with Mars on the 15th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen to the left of Saturn, following the same path in the sky. Look for it moving across the southern sky throughout the night. Best views will be at the end of the month when it rises earlier. Neptune undergoes retrograde motion on the 2nd and lunar occultation on the 25th.
Meteor Showers
The Southern δ-Aquariids reach their peak on the 30th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) will be in the constellation of Aquarius. Meteors will be visible between 22:29 and 04:40 BST when Aquarius is in the sky. Best views will be around 03:00 BST when it is at its highest in the sky. You will be able to see about 9 meteors per hour.
The α-Capricornids reach their peak on the 30th. The radiant (apparent origin point of the meteors) is in the constellation of Capricornus. This constellation is in the sky all night, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays will be around 01:00 BST, when Capricornus is at its highest point. You will be able to see around 2 meteors per hour.
Moon
First Quarter: 13th
Full Moon: 21st
Last Quarter: 28th
New Moon: 5th
The Moon is at perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 24th, and apogee, its furthest point from the Earth, on the 12th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon is at aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 20th, and perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 6th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon will make a close approach with the Pleiades (M45) on the 2nd and the 29th just above the north west horizon. The pair will be visible from 01:45 BST until dawn.
Points of Interest
The cluster IC 4756 is well placed in the constellation of Serpens on the 1st. Best views will be around midnight when Serpens is highest in the sky and it will be visible all night.
The Earth will be at its furthest point from the Sun, aphelion, on the 5th.
Visit https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/ to find out when the International Space Station will be visible from your location.
Last updated: April 7th