The moon is just a day past full phase on June 1, plus it’s at apogee of 406,366 kilometres. By June 8, the moon is at last quarter. The waning crescent moon shares centre stage with Saturn on the morning of June 10. June 13 sees the moon in the Seven Sisters (the Pleiades) and just a little north of Uranus. This could be a challenging observation, since both objects are just above the horizon at sunrise and the moon is a tiny, waning sliver.
June 14, Luna is at perigee of 357,196 kilometres and at new phase. June 16 through 19 sees a rash of encounters with three planets grouped together: first with Mercury June 16, then Jupiter and Venus June 17 among the stars of the Beehive Cluster. The Venus encounter is an occultation for most of the Western Hemisphere. June 19, Regulus, the bright star in Leo, the Lion, is three degrees north of the moon.
First quarter comes on June 21, right on the summer solstice. Then, June 27, the waxing gibbous moon is 0.4 degrees south of Antares, the bright red star in Scorpius, the Scorpion. The moon is at apogee June 28 at 406,265 kilometres, followed by full phase once again this month on June 29.
Mercury reaches greatest elongation east of the sun on June 15, putting on quite a show for viewers who may never have spotted the elusive planet. The following day, the moon joins from stage right, making a nice grouping with the three planets Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury – could be a great photo opportunity.
Venus has been climbing the ecliptic, rising high in the western sky, and paired with Jupiter June 7th. An occultation occurs June 17th, as mentioned above in the moon. The brightest planet slides by the Beehive Cluster June 19th.
Mars, among the stars of Taurus, the Bull, makes for good viewing for the early riser (or for those staying up late). Watch the moon glide by Mars and the Pleiades June 13. At month-end, the Red Planet joins up with Uranus and the Pleiades. Could be a good photo op for those observers who have a telescope fitted with a camera.
Jupiter joins Venus after sunset on the evenings of June 6 to 11. Even though close to the horizon, Jupiter never fails to please the patient viewer, especially when watching the dance of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons.
Saturn rises in the early morning hours, joined by the moon June 10.
Uranus in the morning sky pulls away from the sun, and is joined by Mars at the end of the month.
Neptune, just west of Saturn, is high enough in the sky for decent telescopic viewing. The moon is nearby June 9.
June 21 is the summer solstice when the days begin to shorten.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was national president for two terms, is now the editor of the Observer’s Handbook, and production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour and he is a Fellow of the RASC.
