June begins with a new moon, also resulting in a partial solar eclipse in high northern latitudes; mostly visible in the Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Quebec. This is the second solar eclipse of the year, followed two weeks later by a lunar eclipse June 15. A couple of days after June 1, the moon is within two degrees of the star cluster M35. June 10, Saturn is eight degrees north of the moon - about the width of four fingers held at arm's length. Full moon is June15, which is the total lunar eclipse mentioned above, not visible in North America. June 26, Jupiter is five degrees from the moon. June 28, the Pleiades share the sky with our Luna.
Mercury plunges down behind the sun in the northeastern morning sky during the early days of June and is not visible most of the month, re-appearing at sundown on the western horizon during the final week.
Venus shares the eastern morning sky with Mercury, Mars and Jupiter. The brilliant "Morning Star" slowly rounds in its orbit toward the back of the sun, while the latter two planets pull further away. By month-end, Venus will be a challenging observation, as it rises only briefly before being overpowered by sunrise.
Mars, part of the foursome in the eastern morning sky, is gradually getting higher in the sky with each passing day. These four planets give a good demonstration of the puzzle that ancient astronomers faced, trying to describe how and why the planets, moon and sun orbited the Earth, with some planets appearing to move westward, while others moved eastward. Some complicated, but workable, explanations were devised. Of course, if one assumes the sun is at the centre of the Solar System and the Earth is not stationary, orbital mechanics become clearer, and the explanation is much simpler.
Jupiter likewise gets higher each day, leading the parade of four planets. Jupiter rises about 3 a.m. in early June, and closer to 2 a.m. by month-end. Watch for the waning crescent moon within five degrees of the giant planet June 26 while a bit further east, Mars is just five degrees below the Pleiades.
Saturn is nearly straight south at sundown, in the constellation Corvus, The Crow. The ringed planet crosses the night sky to set about 2:30 a.m. in the west.
Uranus rises in the east about the same time as Saturn is setting. The moon is a close companion in the very early morning of June 23.
Neptune rises in the east around 1:30 a.m. at the beginning of the month, crossing the sky all night.
- James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and quickly became involved in the society. He is editor's assistant and a contributor Observer's Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal and is the society's national secretary.
