The Visible Planets
Mercury is found very low above the northwestern horizon at the start of the month until sinks lower in the sky and disappears in the sunset glow completely by June 26. Binoculars will greatly help you in finding this elusive planet. Look for Mercury just below and to the right of the waxing crescent Moon after sunset on June 16, low above the northwestern horizon. On this night a great conjunction of planets (Venus, Jupiter and Mercury) can be seen alongside the waxing crescent Moon (see image below).
Venus is shining brilliantly low above the west-northwestern horizon after sunset this month. Look for the brightest of all the planets, Venus, near the fainter planet, Jupiter, and the much fainter planet yet, Mercury, all together above the west-northwestern horizon from about June 1 to June 20. The waxing crescent Moon joins this planetary parade from June 15 to June 18. Get your cameras out for this very nice conjunction!
Mars emerges out of the dawn glow above the east-northeast horizon at the start of the month. As we move through the month, Mars climbs higher above our east-northeastern horizon becoming more easily visible in that part of the sky before sunrise. Mars starts the month in the zodiac constellation of Aries, the ram, but slowly moves into the zodiac constellation of Taurus, the bull, by June 20. On June 12, look for Mars just to the lower left of the waning crescent Moon.
Jupiter is found alongside the brighter planet, Venus, low above the west-northwestern sky after sunset for the entire month of June. If you watch them from day to day over the month, you can see the planets change their position in the sky relative to one another. As the month progresses, you can see Jupiter sinking lower toward the horizon from night to night. By the end of the month, Jupiter gets lost in the sunset glow and disappears. It will reappear in our dawn eastern sky in the month of August.
Saturn rises along the eastern horizon at around 3:00 a.m. MDT early in the month and near 1:30 a.m. MDT by the end of the month. It can be found over 17° above the southeastern horizon by the time of sunrise around mid-month. Saturn spends the entire month within the zodiac constellation of Pisces, the fish. On June 10, look for Saturn just below and to the right of the waning crescent Moon.
Moon Phases
June 8 Last Quarter Moon
June 14 New Moon
June 21 First Quarter Moon
June 29 Full Moon (The Strawberry Moon or the Trees Fully Leafed Moon)
Special Events
International Space Station (ISS) Observable Passes
During the month of June, early morning passes of the ISS can be seen from June 24 through till the end of the month, with a continuation of passes into July. Exact times of these passages for your location can be found by visiting the website http://www.heavens-above.com or by using satellite tracking smart phone apps like Sputnik or Spot-the-Station.
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 8 - Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Edmonton Centre meeting. Live in the Zeidler Dome at TWOSE and presented virtually through Zoom. 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Free for anyone to attend. Check edmontonrasc.com for more details.
- June 9 - Venus and Jupiter conjunction in the western sky after sunset.
- June 15 - Mercury at its point of greatest eastern elongation (25 degrees).
Islamic New Year begins at sunset this evening. - June 21 - Summer Solstice takes place at exactly 2:25 a.m. MDT.
- June 30 - Asteroid Day