Read our June sky notes to find out what’s in the night sky this month!
Map
Constellations
These constellations are well placed in the evening this month, but many more can be seen. Check the star map for more.
Aquila rises in the east just after sunset, and can be seen moving across the southern sky all night. It rises earlier as time goes on, and by the end of the month it appears low in the east at sunset.
Virgo begins the night high in the southern sky before setting in the west just before sunrise. As the month goes on, it appears lower and sets earlier, so best views will be early in the month.
Hercules is close to the zenith when it appears at sunset, and falls to the west as the night goes on. At the beginning of the month, look for it in the east in the evening, and near the end, it will appear closer to the south.
Planets
Mercury is too close to the Sun to be seen this month. It will be at greatest elongation west on the 16th, dichotomy on the 22nd, highest altitude in the morning sky on the 26th, and in conjunction with the Moon on the 27th.
Venus rises very close to the Sun in the eastern sky this month. It’s possible to see it just before dawn low on the horizon, as it is the brightest planet, but it will be tricky. Never point binoculars or a telescope directly at the Sun. Venus will be in conjunction with Uranus on the 11th and with the Moon on the 26th.
Mars can be seen in the morning sky above the eastern horizon. It rises earlier as the month goes on, so best views will be near the end of the month. Mars will be at perihelion on the 21st and will undergo a lunar occultation on the 22nd.
Jupiter can be seen in the south eastern morning sky this month. It rises earlier as the month continues, so best views will be towards the end of the month. Jupiter will be in conjunction with the Moon on the 21st.
Saturn appears in the south eastern morning sky, moving south as the month goes on. It will begin retrograde motion on the 4th, and is in conjunction with the Moon on the 18th.
Uranus is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It rises in the north eastern sky in the early morning, and will only rise before the Sun in the second half of the month. Uranus will be in conjunction with Venus on the 11th and undergo a lunar occultation on the 24th.
Neptune is too faint to be seen with the naked eye. It can be seen in the south eastern sky, with best views being towards the end of the month. Neptune will begin retrograde motion on the 28th.
Meteor Showers
The Daytime Arietids reach their peak on the 10th and the radiant (apparent origin point) of the meteors will be in the constellation of Aries. They will be visible from about 02:23 until 03:57. Best views will be just before dawn, as Aries reaches its highest point in the sky after sunrise. You will likely be able to see about 10 meteors per hour, although the nearly full Moon will give significant interference.
The June Boötids reach their peak on the 27th and the radiant (apparent origin point) will be in the constellation of Boötes. This constellation is circumpolar, so meteors will be visible all night. Best displays will be after dusk, as Boötes reaches its highest point in the sky around 22:00.
Moon
First Quarter: 7th
Full Moon: 14th
Last Quarter: 21st
New Moon: 29th
The Moon reaches perigee, its closest point to the Earth, on the 15th and apogee, its furthest point from the Earth, on the 2nd and 29th. This effect is not visually apparent.
The Moon reaches perihelion, its closest point to the Sun, on the 28th and aphelion, its furthest point from the Sun, on the 15th. This effect is not visually apparent.
Points of Interest
Asteroid 29 Amphitrite will be at opposition on the 6th. It will lie in the constellation of Scorpius and will reach its highest point around midnight. The highest point is about 6° above the horizon so it will be tricky to observe.
The comet C/2021 E3 (ZTF) reaches perihelion on the 11th. It will be in the constellation of Mensa, which never rises above the horizon so this event will not be visible.
The June solstice occurs on the 21st. This is the longest day of the year.
Visit https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/ to find out when the International Space Station will be visible from your location.