What's in the Sky June 2024

Hello stargazers! June is here, and it's packed with amazing celestial events that you won't want to miss. Whether you're a seasoned astronomer or just starting your stargazing journey, there's something for everyone this month. So, grab your telescopes, binoculars, or just your eyes, and let's dive right in and see what's happening above us!

June 1: Captivating Crescent Moon

Kicking off June, on the 1st at 4:30 am, we have a captivating crescent Moon nestled between Saturn and Mars. Both planets will shine with the same stunning 1-magnitude brightness. This is a perfect opportunity to see the trio in the early morning sky. Grab your binoculars or a small telescope, and enjoy this beautiful sight!

June 3: Planetary Alignment

Next, mark your calendars for Monday, June 3rd. Early in the morning, just before sunrise, you'll witness a spectacular planetary alignment. Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune will all be lined up in the eastern sky. Seeing 1-4 planets aligning is pretty common, but catching 5 or more is a rare treat! Fun fact: The next time we’ll see all 7 planets of our solar system align is in February 2025.

June 6: New Moon

June 6th brings us a New Moon. Peaking at 8:38 am, the Moon will be on the same side of the Earth as the Sun, making it invisible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects like galaxies and star clusters, as there is no moonlight to interfere.

June 20: Summer Solstice

On June 20th at 4:51 pm, we celebrate the Summer Solstice! This marks the first day of summer for the Northern Hemisphere and the longest day of 2024. The Sun will be at its highest point at midday, rising from its leftmost position and setting at the year's rightmost spot on the horizon. This is a great day to soak up the sun and enjoy the extended daylight!

June 21: Full Strawberry Moon

Get ready for a special treat on June 21st at 9:09 pm – the Full Strawberry Moon! This year’s Full Moon brings something extra. It will have an unusually amber, low-down placement in the sky. This is because the Moon will be at its lowest point in the zodiac, in Sagittarius. This phenomenon happens once every 18 years, so don’t miss it! Watch the Moon in the hour after midnight to see it at its highest for the night, yet so very low in the sky. It’s called the Strawberry Moon because it coincides with the peak of the strawberry harvesting season.

June 22-27: June Bootid Meteor Shower 

From June 22nd to July 2nd, keep an eye out for the June Bootid meteor shower, peaking around 1 am on June 27th. The shower's radiant point is in the constellation Bootes and is always above the horizon, making it visible throughout the night. The best time to watch is after dusk when the radiant point is highest in the sky. You'll see meteors raining down, producing short trails close to the radiant point. It’s an awesome display!

June 30: Mars Conjunction

Wrapping up the month on June 30th, we have a stunning conjunction with Mars hovering halfway between the Moon and Jupiter. This alignment creates a beautiful spectacle in the night sky, perfect for all star-gazers!

That’s it for June 2024! Make sure to subscribe, like, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss any updates. Grab your telescopes, binoculars, or just your eyes and enjoy the wonders of the night sky. Clear skies, everyone!