Solstice arrives, and more top stargazing events in June
Planets big and small shining at their best and the moon in motion also offer reasons to look up this month.
The seasons transition this month with the arrival of the June solstice, heralding summer heat in the north and winter chill in the south. Sky-watchers will also be treated to the best views of the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, which will appear at its biggest and brightest in five years.
So mark your June calendar, and gaze skyward on the next clear night.
Known affectionately as Earth’s “evil” twin, Venus is one of the brightest planets in our night skies thanks to its thick, reflective atmosphere. The planet currently hangs very low in the eastern horizon, rising only about an hour before the sun does, so the viewing window will be short.
But on the morning of June 1, Venus
