The Visible Planets
Mercury just can’t get out of the dawn’s glow from our latitude and will not be visible for us this month.
Venus is shining brilliantly in our western evening sky after sunset. On June 4, Venus reaches its greatest eastern elongation from the Sun of about 45°. On June 21, the summer solstice, look for a nice grouping of bright Venus with the waxing crescent Moon and the much fainter planet Mars. Venus spends most of the month moving through the faint constellation of Cancer, the crab, before moving into the constellation of Leo, the lion, on June 26.
Mars has been dimming a lot since its opposition back in December of 2022 and is now found in our western sky after sunset. Mars spends the first part of the month moving through the constellation of Cancer, the crab, along with the much brighter planet Venus. It then enters the constellation of Leo, the lion, from June 19 onwards. On June 21, see Mars near the waxing crescent Moon and the much brighter Venus.
Jupiter is found rising along the east-northeast horizon about an hour before sunrise this month. Jupiter is located within the constellation of Aries, the ram, through the month and will remain in this constellation for the rest of the year. Before sunrise on June 14, look for Jupiter just to the right of the very shallow waning crescent Moon.
Saturn rises along the east-southeast horizon at around 2:30 a.m. early in the month and just a little past midnight by the end of the month. Saturn can be found moving through the constellation of Aquarius, the water bearer, where it will remain for the rest of the year.
Moon Phases
June 3 Full Moon (The Strawberry Moon or the Trees Fully Leafed Moon)
June 10 Last Quarter Moon
June 17 New Moon
June 26 First Quarter Moon
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
During the month of June there are only two early morning passes of the ISS, one on June 29 and the other on June 30. See http://www.heavens-above.com for up-to-date details for your location.
Noctilucent Clouds
From June to late July, noctilucent clouds can be seen from the Edmonton area. Look for these extremely high, pearly blue clouds, in the northern sky.
June 4 Venus at its greatest eastern elongation (45°)
June 12 Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting
Live in the Zeidler Dome at TELUS World of Science - Edmonton and presented virtually through Zoom.
7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Free for anyone to attend.
See http://www.edmontonrasc.com for more details.
June 21 Summer Solstice takes place at exactly 8:58 a.m. MDT.
Venus, Mars, and the waxing crescent Moon form a triangle in western sky after sunset.
June 30 Asteroid Day
Mercury in superior conjunction