Sky Events June 2016

Moon Phases

Saturday, June 4, 11:00 p.m. EDT

New Moon

The Moon is not visible on the date of New Moon because it is too close to the Sun, but can be seen low in the East as a narrow crescent a morning or two before, just before sunrise. It is visible low in the West an evening or two after New Moon.

Sunday, June 12, 4:10 a.m. EDT

First Quarter Moon

The First Quarter Moon rises around 12:30 p.m. and sets around 1:40 a.m. It dominates the evening sky.

Monday, June 20, 7:02 a.m. EDT

Full Moon

The June Full Moon is known as the Mead Moon, Strawberry Moon, Rose Moon, or Thunder Moon. It rises around sunset and sets around sunrise; this is the only night in the month when the Moon is in the sky all night long. The rest of the month, the Moon spends at least some time in the daytime sky.

Monday, June 27, 2:19 p.m. EDT

Last Quarter Moon

The Last Quarter Moon rises around 1:00 a.m. and sets around 1:30 p.m. It is most easily seen just after sunrise in the southern sky.

Observing Highlights

Saturn at opposition

Friday, June 3, 3 a.m. EDT

Saturn is directly opposite the Sun in the sky, and is visible all night long.

Mercury north of Moon

Friday, June 3, dawn

Mercury rises just before the Sun, about a degree north of the Moon, making it easy to spot.

Mercury at greatest elongation West

Sunday, June 5, 5:00 a.m. EDT

Mercury will be at its greatest distance from the Sun in a westward direction. This is a fair apparition for southern observers, but a poor one for northerners, as Mercury is still close to the horizon at sunrise.

Jupiter west of Moon

Saturday, June 11, sunset

Jupiter will be just west of the waxing crescent Moon at sunset.

Solstice

Monday, June 20, 6:34 p.m. EDT

The Sun reaches its farthest declination north, marking midsummer in the Northern Hemisphere and midwinter in the South.

Planets

Mercury will be visible low on the eastern horizon just before sunrise early in the month, reaching maximum elongation on June 5.

Venus is too close to the Sun to be observed.

Mars was in opposition to the Sun on May 22, and closest to Earth on May 30, so continues to dominate the evening sky in Libra. Saturn is nearby in Ophiuchus.

Jupiter is well placed in the evening sky in Leo. It sets after midnight.

Saturn is in opposition on June 3 in Ophiuchus. Being directly opposite the Sun, it is visible all night. The rings are spread wide, making it a beautiful sight in any telescope.

Uranus, in Pisces, rises around 2:30 a.m., and is visible the rest of the night.

Neptune, in Aquarius, rises around 1 a.m., and is visible the rest of the night.

Geoff Gaherty
Starry Night Software Support
All graphics © 2016 Starry Night Software