VISUAL OBSERVING VS SPACE TELESCOPES & PROBES

June 2026 is a month of spectacular planetary "meetings" and the arrival of the summer constellations. Here are the best naked-eye targets to spot.

🪐The Great conjuction of Venus & Jupiter:

• The highlight of the month occurs on June 8 and 9. The two brightest planets in the sky, Venus and Jupiter, will come incredibly close to each other in the west-northwest sky just after sunset.

• Appearance: They will look like two brilliant "stars" separated by only about the width of your pinky finger held at arm's length.
  
• The "Planetary Parade": In the first half of the month, you can see a "parade" of planets—Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter—all low in the west shortly after sunset.

🌠Meteor Showers: Arietids:

While most of this shower happens during the day, the Arietids are one of the most active showers of the year. Peak: June 10.

• How to see: Look toward the eastern horizon in the dark hour before dawn (around 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM). You may catch "Earthgrazers"—meteors that streak upward from the horizon.
  
• Note: In 2026, a thin crescent moon will be nearby, but it shouldn't produce enough light to ruin the view.

The Summer Solstice ☀️ 

June 21 marks the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. This is the longest day of the year, which means the "night" sky is at its briefest.

• Noctilucent Clouds: Late June is the best time to spot these rare, "electric blue" clouds. They glow long after sunset because they are so high in the atmosphere that they still catch the Sun's light. Look low in the northern sky about 90 minutes after sunset.