Hey, Space Fans — June Is About to Be Amazing

Okay, I have to be honest with you. Sometimes skywatching feels like a lot of effort. You check the weather, bundle up (even in summer, because nights get cold), drive somewhere away from city lights, and then... nothing. Clouds. Light pollution. A disappointing hot chocolate.

But this June? This June is different. We're getting a rare treat, and I genuinely think everyone with any curiosity about the night sky should make time to witness it.

Three Planets Hanging Out Like Old Friends

Here's the deal: during the first half of June, look west right after sunset. Like, really shortly after sunset — don't wait around. We're talking maybe 30-45 minutes after the Sun dips below the horizon.

What you'll see is Venus and Jupiter having a conversation. Well, not literally — they're millions upon millions of miles apart — but from where we're standing, they'll look cozy together. This is what astronomers call a "conjunction," and it happens when planets happen to align in our field of view because they're all traveling along the same basic path around the Sun (called the ecliptic, if you want to sound fancy at parties).

Around June 9, they'll be at their closest. But honestly, the whole first week or so of June should give you a great view.

And get this — from June 11 through 15, Mercury hops into the party. You'll need a clearer view of the horizon to catch Mercury since it sits lower, but three planets visible together after sunset? That's pretty special.

Pro tip: Venus will be the brightest of the three. Like, embarrassingly bright. It's hard to miss.

The Moon Will Swallow Venus (Don't Worry, It'll Come Back)

Now here's the really wild event: on June 17, the Moon is going to pass directly in front of Venus.

Astronomers call this a "lunar occultation," which sounds like something out of a fantasy novel. Basically, Venus will disappear behind the Moon and then pop back out a bit later. For those in the viewing path (parts of the US, Canada, Brazil, Venezuela), it'll be like watching a cosmic magic trick.

Even if you're not in the perfect viewing zone, you'll still see the Moon and Venus looking suspiciously close together — closer than usual, I mean.

Important safety note: Some locations will see this happen during daylight hours. If you're planning to observe with binoculars or a telescope, PLEASE be careful not to point them anywhere near the Sun. I'm not being dramatic — you can cause serious damage to your eyes. If you can't safely observe, just enjoy the evening view instead.

The Summer Solstice Brings Long Days and Perfect Stargazing Nights

The June 21 solstice marks the official start of astronomical summer (no, I'm not starting summer earlier — that's a whole other conversation about meteorological vs. astronomical seasons).

Fun fact that always blows my mind: the longest day of the year doesn't have the earliest sunrise OR the latest sunset. There's a little delay. In Los Angeles, for example, the earliest sunrise actually happens before the solstice, while the latest sunset comes after. Our calendars and the actual sky don't sync up perfectly. Space is weird like that.

But the solstice does mean one thing for stargazers: plenty of darkness to enjoy once the Sun goes down.

Speaking of Summer Skies — Remember the Summer Triangle?

As we get deeper into June, some of my favorite stargazing targets start showing up. The Summer Triangle — made up of Vega, Altair, and Deneb — is one of the easiest celestial landmarks to find. You don't need a telescope or anything; just look up and try to spot these three bright stars forming a rough triangle shape.

Once you've found it, here's where it gets fun: inside and around that triangle are some genuinely stunning deep-sky objects. I'm talking about the Dumbbell Nebula, the Ring Nebula, the North America Nebula, and the Veil Nebula.

These aren't visible to the naked eye — you'll need binoculars or a telescope to really appreciate them. But through optical equipment, you can see glowing clouds of gas, dying stars, and stellar nurseries. It's honestly one of those experiences that makes you feel both tiny and incredibly lucky to exist.

The Dumbbell Nebula (also called M27) has a special place in history as the first planetary nebula ever discovered. Now whenever I look at it, I think about that astronomer centuries ago who first laid eyes on it and probably lost their mind a little.

Let's Make a Plan

Here's my challenge to you: pick one event this June and actually go outside to see it. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction is probably the easiest to catch — you don't need to be anywhere special, and you don't need equipment. Just look west after sunset and enjoy.

Or, if you're feeling ambitious, find a dark spot on June 17 to watch the Moon occult Venus. It's rare. Like, genuinely rare.

This month, the universe is putting on a show. The least we can do is look up.

Clear skies, everyone! 🔭✨