What's Up In The Sky Now?

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Our days are getting to their longest point as we approach the beginning of Summer, which means less hours to enjoy the night sky. I just continue to hope for clear skies!!!

MERCURY - has its best evening showing this month but drops below the western horizon shortly after sunset. This little planet pairs nicely with Venus & Jupiter this month, so watch the western horizon near sunset. It reaches its greatest elongation (longest distance from the Sun as viewed from Earth) on the 15th. June 16 at 10 PM.

VENUS - This month our Evening Star displays a 77% disk. Early in the month it leads Jupiter to the western horizon but then lets Jupiter take the lead by mid-month. On the 17th there will be a daytime occultation of Venus by the Moon at about 2:45 PM CDT. Try using binoculars to watch this event. Venus occultations are fairly uncommon with the last one seen in the US in April 2024.

EARTH  - SUMMER SOLSTICE happens on the 21st at 3:25 AM CDT.

MARS - The red planet rises about 90 minutes before sunrise and should have a good viewing opportunity on the 12th. Look for Mars near the Pleiades in the E-NE on the 23rd. June 12th at 4:30 AM. Neptune is in the top right corner of this image.

JUPITER - Continues to head towards a solar conjunction next month at the end of July. Best viewing this month is shortly after sundown, usually with Venus nearby.

SATURN - Remains in our eastern morning sky, so set your alarm clock for those early morning hours to see this beauty.

URANUS - Is not visible the first half of June but finally shows itself by the 15th as it rises about an hour before sunrise.

NEPTUNE - This blue planet finally appears in the night sky after midnight.

• 08 – 3rd / Last quarter
• 14 – NEW Moon at 9:54 PM CDT and is called a “Super New Moon” as it is at its closest point to Earth.
• 21 – 1st quarter
• 29 – FULL Moon at 6:56 PM CDT, known this month as “Micro Full Moon” as it is at its furthest distance from Earth.