Night sky, June 2024: What you can see tonight [maps] (2024)

The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers.

Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view. You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier, and use our Satellite Tracker page powered by N2YO.comto find out when and how to see the International Space Station and other satellites. We also have a helpful guide on how you can see and track a Starlink satellite train.

You can also capture the night sky by using any of the best cameras for astrophotography, along with a selection of the best lenses for astrophotography.

Read on to find out what's up in the night sky tonight (planets visible now, moon phases, observing highlights this month) plus other resources (skywatching terms, night sky observing tips and further reading)

Related: The brightest planets in June's night sky: How to see them (and when)

Monthly skywatching information is provided to Space.com by Chris Vaughan of Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @StarryNightEdu and Chris at @Astrogeoguy

Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo and would like to share them with Space.com's readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.

Calendar of observing highlights

Saturday, June 1 - Old moon near Neptune

When the waning crescent moon rises over the eastern horizon during the wee hours of Saturday morning, June 1, the faint speck of the planet Neptune will be positioned several finger-widths to the moon's upper right (or 3 degrees to its celestial west).

Their separation will be close enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle), though Neptune will be easier to see if you hide the bright moon just beyond the lower left edge of your binoculars. Saturn will shine off to their upper right. Hours earlier, observers with telescopes across southern Africa can watch the moon occult Neptune.

Sunday, June 2 - Old moon passes Mars

In the eastern sky before dawn on Sunday morning, June 2, the old crescent moon will shine a palm's width to the upper right (or celestial west) of the reddish planet Mars. Mars will rise to join the moon after about 4 a.m. and remain visible until the brightening sky hides the planet. Observers viewing their meet-up in westerly time zones will see the moon close enough to Mars for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). On Monday morning, the moon will hop east to shine on Mars' left (or celestial ENE).

Monday, June 3 - Moon and many planets in morning

In early June, six planets and the waning crescent moon will be strung along the ecliptic (green line) in the eastern sky before sunrise. From May 31 to June 5, the crescent moon's eastward orbital motion will carry it past the planets, making it a pretty sight for early risers.

The relatively bright planets Saturn and Mars will rise during the wee hours and shine until dawn. They will be the only planets easily seen with unaided eyes. The faint, blue speck of Neptune positioned between them will require binoculars or a telescope. Just before sunrise, the bright, close-together pair of Jupiter and Mercury will rise, preceded by fainter Uranus. Those last three planets will be all but hidden in the glare of the sun, though observers located near the equator might glimpse the Mercury-Jupiter conjunction. Planetary gatherings are not particularly rare and the planets are always "aligned" on or near the ecliptic plane.

Tuesday, June 4 - Mercury merges with Jupiter

On the mornings surrounding Tuesday, June 4, speedy Mercury's trip sunward will carry it extremely close to Jupiter. The two planets will shine above the east-northeastern horizon just before sunrise.

Their separation will be narrow enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) or a small telescope from Monday to Wednesday, with Mercury positioned above twice as bright Jupiter on Monday and then below it on Wednesday. During their closest approach on Tuesday, they'll be a mere 0.2 degrees apart. The conjunction will be difficult to see against the bright sky. Observers in the tropics will have an easier time seeing the duo, especially around 6 a.m. local time. Be sure to turn all optical aids away from the eastern horizon before the sun rises.

Wednesday, June 5 - Old moon above Jupiter and Mercury

Before sunrise on Wednesday morning, June 5, the old, only 1.7% illuminated crescent moon will be positioned several finger widths higher than Jupiter and Mercury above the east-northeastern horizon. Jupiter will clear the horizon by 5 a.m. local time, followed by Mercury about 5 minutes later. Binoculars (orange circle) will show the moon and two planets in the same field of view. Keep an eye out for the brightest stars of the Pleiades Cluster aka The Seven sisters and Messier 45 positioned just above the moon, too. Turn all optical aids away from the eastern horizon before the sun rises.

Thursday, June 6 - New Moon

On Thursday, June 6 at 8:38 a.m. EDT (5:38 a.m. PDT, or 12:38 GMT), the moon will officially reach its new moon phase. At the new phase, our natural satellite will be located in Taurus, and about 4 degrees north of the sun. While new, the moon is traveling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only shine on the far side of the moon, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, it becomes completely hidden from view from anywhere on Earth for about a day. After the new moon phase, Earth's celestial night light will return to shine as a crescent in the western evening sky.

Saturday, June 8 - Pretty moon under the Arch of Spring

As the sky darkens after sunset on Saturday, June 8, look for the slim crescent of the young moon shining prettily in the lower part of the western sky. Once the stars come out, the "fraternal twin" stars will appear side-by-side above the moon with Pollux (on the left) and Castor (on the right). The bright white star Procyon will sparkle down to the moon's lower left and bright yellowish Capella will gleam to the moon's lower right. Together, those four bright stars form the Arch of Spring, an asterism that appears in the west every night at this time of year at mid-northern latitudes. Skywatchers located in westerly time zones will see the moon closer to Pollux.

Tuesday, June 11: The Big Dipper points to stars

In early June the Big Dipper asterism, part of the larger constellation of Ursa Major, sits high in the northwestern sky after dusk. When viewed while facing northwest, the dipper's bowl opens on the right, towards its Little Dipper counterpart, and its handle extends upward. A line extended from Merak through Dubhe, the stars that mark the bowl's outer base and rim, respectively, will arrive at medium-bright Polaris, the North Star. Continue the arc of the dipper's bent handle and "Arc to Arcturus", the very bright, orange star in Böotes. Continuing that arc farther to "Spike to Spica", the brightest star in Virgo. Extending the line from Phecda to Megrez, the dipper's upper two bowl stars, will "Drive to Deneb" in Cygnus. Extending that line in the opposite direction "Reaches for Regulus", the brightest star in Leo.

Friday, June 14 - First Quarter Moon

The moon will complete the first quarter of its orbit around Earth, measuring from the previous new moon, on Friday, June 14 at 1:18 a.m. EDT and 05:18 GMT, which converts to 10:18 p.m. PDT on Thursday night. The 90-degree angle formed by the Earth, sun, and moon at that time will cause us to see our natural satellite half-illuminated on its eastern side.

At first quarter, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight, allowing it to be seen in the afternoon daytime sky, too. The evenings surrounding the first quarter phase are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight.

Sunday, June 16 - Bright moon poses with Spica

On Sunday afternoon, June 16 in the Americas, the waxing gibbous moon will rise mid-afternoon and ascend the southeastern sky until dusk. Once the sky darkens in late evening, look for Virgo's brightest star Spica twinkling several finger-widths to the moon's right (or 3 degrees to its celestial WNW). Spica is a hot, white, B1-class star 250 light-years from our sun. Hours earlier, skywatchers located in the region northeast of the Black Sea can use binoculars and backyard telescopes to watch the moon occult Spica.

Tuesday, June 18 - Eyeing Mare Imbrium

On Sunday, April 2, the lunar terminator will have moved beyond the western rim of Mare Imbrium, the Sea of Rains. That dark, circular feature dominates the northwestern quadrant of the moon's Earth-facing hemisphere.

The mare is the moon's largest impact basin, measuring more than 715 miles (1,145 kilometers) in diameter. It was formed during the late heavy bombardment period approximately 3.94 billion years ago.

Binoculars and backyard telescope views of Mare Imbrium at this phase will reveal ejecta blankets around its major craters Aristillus, Autolycus, and Archimedes, the nearly-submerged ghost craters Cassini and Wallace, the isolated mountain ranges Recti, Teneriffe, and Spitzbergen, and an interior ring of subtle wrinkle ridges. The half-circle of Sinus Iridum, the Bay of Rainbows, interrupts Imbrium's western edge.

Wednesday, June 19 - Bright moon moves through Scorpion's Claws (evening)

In the lower part of the southern sky after dusk on Wednesday, June 19, the waxing, nearly full moon will shine in western Scorpius, between that constellation's brightest star, reddish Antares, and the up-down row of small white stars that form the scorpion's claws, Jabbah or Nu Scorpii, Graffias or Acrab, Dschubba, Pi Scorpii, and Rho Scorpii.

A backyard telescope at high magnification will reveal that Nu Scorpii, Graffias, and Dschubba are close-together double stars. The next evening, observers north of Papua / New Guinea can watch the moon occult Antares.

Thursday, June 20 - Northern summer solstice

On Thursday, June 20 at 4:51 p.m. EDT (1:51 p.m. PDT and 20:51 GMT), the sun will reach its northernmost declination for the year, delivering the maximum daylight hours of the year for the Northern Hemisphere and the minimum daylight hours of the year for the Southern Hemisphere. The June solstice marks the beginning of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.

Friday, June 21 - Full Strawberry Moon

The moon will officially reach its full phase on Friday, June 21 at 9:08 p.m. EDT (6:08 p.m. PDT, which converts to 01:08 GMT on Saturday, June 22). The June full moon, colloquially known as the Strawberry Moon, Mead Moon, Rose Moon, Birthing Moon, or Hot Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Sagittarius, the Archer.

The indigenous Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call this moon Ode'miin Giizis, the Strawberry Moon. For the Cree Nation, it's Opiniyawiwipisim, the Egg Laying Moon (referring to the activities of wild water-fowl). The Mohawks call it Ohiarí:Ha, the Fruits are Small Moon. The Cherokee call it Tihaluhiyi, the Green Corn Moon, when crops are growing. The moon is only completely full when it is opposite the sun in the sky, so full moons always rise in the east as the sun is setting, and set in the west at sunrise. Since sunlight is hitting the moon face-on at that time, no shadows are cast - all of the variations in brightness you see arise from differences in the reflectivity, or albedo, of the lunar surface rocks.

Saturday, June 22 - The Summer Triangle arrives

After dusk in late June, Vega, Deneb, and Altair are the first stars to appear in the darkening eastern sky. Those three bright, white stars form the Summer Triangle asterism — an annual feature of the summer sky that remains visible until the end of December!

The highest and most easterly of the trio is Vega, in Lyra. At magnitude 0.03, Vega is the brightest star in the summer sky, mainly due to its relative proximity to the sun — it's only 25 light-years distant. Magnitude 0.75 Altair, in Aquila, occupies the southern corner of the triangle. Altair is 17 light-years from the sun. By contrast, Deneb, which shines somewhat less brightly at magnitude 1.25, is a staggering 2,600 light-years away from us; but it ranks so high in visible brightness because of its greater intrinsic luminosity. The Milky Way passes between Vega and Altair and through Deneb, which sits high overhead in Cygnus as dawn begins to break.

Tuesday, June 25 - Stars to wish upon

If you want to wish upon the first star to shine after dusk, then you've got two to choose from in late June! As the sky darkens after sunset, cast your gaze high in the southern sky to spot yellow-orange Arcturus (Alpha Boötis). At magnitude -0.15, it's not only the brightest star in Boötes, the Herdsman, but also the fourth brightest star in the entire night sky worldwide. Only our sun and Sirius are brighter for mid-Northern latitude skywatchers.

At only 37 light-years away from the sun, Arcturus is a "neighbor" of ours. If you happen to be facing east, you might see the equally bright star Vega, in Lyra, the Harp first. Vega is the next brightest star in the sky after Arcturus due to its location only 25 light-years away from us.

Thursday, June 27 - Moon moves toward Saturn

When the yellowish planet Saturn rises in the east in the early hours of Thursday morning, June 27, it will be shining less than palm's width to the left (or 5 degrees to the celestial ENE) of the waning half-illuminated moon.

The pair will be cozy enough for them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) until the brightening sky hides Saturn at sunrise. On Friday morning, observers in eastern Australia and the region surrounding Fiji can watch the moon occult Saturn.

Friday, June 28 - Third Quarter Moon

The moon will officially reach its third quarter phase at 5:53 p.m. EDT (2:53 p.m. PDT, or 21:53 GMT) on Friday, June 28.

At third (or last) quarter the moon appears half-illuminated on its western, sunward side. The moon will rise after midnight local time, and then remain visible until it sets in the western daytime sky in the early afternoon. Third quarter moons are positioned ahead of the Earth in our trip around the Sun. About 3 and a half hours later, Earth will occupy that same location in space. The moonless evening skies in the week that follow this phase are the best ones for observing deep sky targets.

Saturday, June 29 - Lyra's double double star

The constellation of Lyra is positioned high in the eastern sky during late evening in June. Keen eyes might reveal that the medium-bright star Epsilon Lyrae, which is located just a finger's width to the lower left (or one degree to the celestial east) of the very bright star Vega, is a close-together pair of stars — a double star.

Binoculars (orange circle) or a backyard telescope will certainly show the two stars. Examining Epsilon at high magnification will reveal that each of those stars is itself a double — hence its nickname, "the Double Double". Each duo is a true binary star system, with the companions orbiting one another once every 600 and 1,200 years.

Sunday, June 30 - Saturn stands still

On Sunday, June 30, Saturn will cease its regular eastward motion through the distant stars of Aquarius and begin a retrograde loop (red curve) that will last until mid-November. The apparent reversal in Saturn's motion is an effect of parallax produced when Earth, on a faster orbit, passes the Ringed Planet on the "inside track". You can observe the planet's motion by noting how Saturn's distance from the bright star Hydor (Lambda Aquarii) to its right varies over the coming weeks.

Visible planets in June

Mercury

As June begins, the magnitude -0.85 planet Mercury will be reducing its angle from the sun in the eastern pre-dawn sky. The planet will pose a mere 10 arc-minutes from brighter Jupiter on June 4. Their meeting, which will take place only 12 degrees from the sun, will be best seen from tropical latitudes. The planet will diminish in brightness and become lost from view days later.

After Mercury passes the sun at superior conjunction on June 14 it will emerge into the western, post-sunset sky — passing less than a degree north of much brighter Venus on June 16-17 and then steadily climbing away from the sun for the rest of the month.

Mercury's evening apparition will be a good one for mid-northern observers and a so-so showing for those in the Southern Hemisphere. The planet will steadily fade in brightness and linger longer after sunset each day. Telescope views of Mercury will show a waning gibbous disk that swells to 5.69 arc-seconds across at month's end.

Venus

During June, Venus will be too close to the sun to be observable while it passes the sun at solar conjunction on June 4. In the final days of June, the bright, magnitude -3.9 planet will reappear just above the northwestern horizon after sunset.

Mars

Mars will spend June in the eastern pre-dawn sky, gradually increasing its angle from the morning sun from 47 degrees to 53 degrees. The reddish planet will rise about two hours before the sun as June opens, and then three hours beforehand at month's end, giving early risers more telescope-viewing time on it.

Mars will shine at a medium-bright, magnitude 1.0 all month long, slightly outshining yellowish Saturn positioned to Mars' upper right. The ruddy planet's eastward orbital motion will increase its separation from Saturn from 35 to 56 degrees over the month.

Mars will begin June in southern Pisces and then pass into Aries on June 10. Its position on the far side of the sun from Earth will keep the planet looking small in telescopes; its apparent disk diameter will be only about 5 arc-seconds across on a 91%-illuminated phase. The slim crescent of the old moon will hop past Mars on June 2-3.

Jupiter

During June, magnitude -2.0 Jupiter, fresh from solar conjunction, will gradually attain visibility low in the east-northeastern sky before sunrise. On June 4, Mercury will pose a mere 10 arc-minutes to Jupiter's south. On the following morning, the waning crescent moon will appear several degrees above Mercury and Jupiter. By the end of the month, the giant planet will rise around 3:30 a.m. local time, early enough for the stars of Taurus to appear around it.

Saturn

As June begins Saturn will rise among the stars of eastern Aquarius around 2 a.m. local time and linger into view in the southeastern sky until almost sunrise. Saturn's increasing elongation from the morning sun will allow it to rise before midnight at the end of June — commencing our evening planet viewing for 2024.

Over the month, the planet's brightness will increase slightly from 1.16 to 1.05. In a telescope, Saturn will sport a globe about 17.4 arc seconds wide. Its rings, which will become edge-on to Earth next March, will already appear very narrow.

Earth's edge-on views of the Saturn system this year and next will produce frequent transits of Saturn's moons and their shadows across its face. During June, yellowish Saturn's separation from reddish Mars will increase from 35 to 56 degrees. The waning, slightly gibbous moon will shine to the right of Saturn on June 27 and generate a lunar occultation of Saturn for eastern Australia and the region surrounding Fiji.

Uranus

Like nearby Jupiter, magnitude 5.8 Uranus will spend June emerging from the morning twilight above the east-northeastern horizon before sunrise. The planet will shine in a dark sky among the stars of western Taurus by the end of June, but it will not ascend high enough for good telescope views of its 3.4 arc-seconds wide, blue disk until next month.

Neptune

Creeping just south of the ecliptic between Saturn and Mars, the distant, magnitude 7.9 planet Neptune can be observed for several hours before dawn each morning. At the end of June, it will be days away from rising before midnight.

Neptune will be located about 10 degrees east of Saturn, and sharing a binoculars' field of view with the medium-bright stars 20, 24, 27, and 29 Piscium to its lower right (celestial southwest). Telescope users can see its tiny, 2.2 arc-second-wide blue disk. The waning crescent moon will shine near Neptune on June 1.

On June 28, the moon will return, providing observers across northern South America with a lunar occultation of the planet. The numerous lunar occultations of Neptune in 2024 will be a challenge to view.

Skywatching terms

Gibbous: Used to describe a planet or moon that is more than 50% illuminated.

Asterism: A noteworthy or striking pattern of stars within a larger constellation.

Degrees (measuring the sky): The sky is 360 degrees all the way around, which means roughly 180 degrees from horizon to horizon. It's easy to measure distances between objects: Your fist on an outstretched arm covers about 10 degrees of sky, while a finger covers about one degree.

Visual Magnitude: This is the astronomer's scale for measuring the brightness of objects in the sky. The dimmest object visible in the night sky under perfectly dark conditions is about magnitude 6.5. Brighter stars are magnitude 2 or 1. The brightest objects get negative numbers. Venus can be as bright as magnitude minus 4.9. The full moon is minus 12.7 and the sun is minus 26.8.

Terminator: The boundary on the moon between sunlight and shadow.

Zenith: The point in the sky directly overhead.

Night sky observing tips

Adjust to the dark: If you wish to observe fainter objects, such as meteors, dim stars, nebulas, and galaxies, give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking at your phone's bright screen by keeping it tucked away. If you must use it, set the brightness to minimum — or cover it with clingy red film.

Light Pollution: Even from a big city, one can see the moon, a handful of bright stars, and the brightest planets - if they are above the horizon. But to fully enjoy the heavens — especially a meteor shower, the fainter constellations, or to see the amazing swath across the sky that is the disk of our home galaxy, the Milky Way — rural areas are best for night sky viewing. If you're stuck in a city or suburban area, use a tree or dark building to block ambient light (or moonlight) and help reveal fainter sky objects. If you're in the suburbs, simply turning off outdoor lights can help.

Prepare for skywatching: If you plan to be outside for more than a few minutes, and it's not a warm summer evening, dress more warmly than you think is necessary. An hour of winter observing can chill you to the bone. For meteor showers, a blanket or lounge chair will prove to be much more comfortable than standing, or sitting in a chair and craning your neck to see overhead.

Daytime skywatching: On the days surrounding first quarter, the moon is visible in the afternoon daytime sky. At last quarter, the moon rises before sunrise and lingers into the morning daytime sky. When Venus is at a significant angle away from the sun it can often be spotted during the day as a brilliant point of light - but you'll need to consult an astronomy app to know when and where to look for it. When large sunspots develop on the sun, they can be seen without a telescope — as long as you use proper solar filters, such as eclipse glasses. Permanent eye damage can occur if you look at the sun for any length of time without protective eyewear.