9 celestial events this June's, from a strawberry moon to interstellar clouds
Whether you're waking up early to spot Venus in the pre-dawn sky, staying up late to peep the Lagoon Nebula, or spending the whole night on the hunt for meteors, June's night sky has something for every stargazer. Here's what to keep an eye out for when you look up this month.
(9 must-see night sky events to look forward to in 2025.) Venus at greatest western elongation—June 1
On June 1, Venus will reach its farthest distance west of the sun from the perspective of Earth—a point known as greatest western elongation. This is a particularly good time to get a glimpse at Earth's neighboring planet, as it won't be drowned out by sunlight.
In some time zones, the exact timing of this event occurs on May 31, while in others, it's on June 1. But the best time to view Venus is just before dawn, when it rises in the eastern sky in the Northern Hemisphere, or the northeastern sky if you're in the Southern Hemisphere. A "well-placed" globular cluster—June 2
Missed seeing the "well-placed" globular clusters in May? The Great Hercules Cluster, or Messier 13, reaches its highest point in the night sky on June 2, putting it in a prime viewing position.
Discovered in 1714 by English astronomer Edmond Halley, for whom the iconic Halley's Comet is named, the Great Hercules Cluster is a collection of more than 100,000 stars densely packed into a glittering, spheroidic shape. While it can be hard to discern with the naked eye, it's easily visible through binoculars. Daytime Arietids meteor shower peak—June 7
As its name implies, the prolific daytime Arietid meteor shower doesn't peak at night, but during the day. That, of course, makes most of the meteors nearly impossible to see.
But there's still a chance of spotting shooting stars in the predawn hours on June 7, just before the estimated peak during the daylight hours. And if you want to "see" the daytime activity, visit the NASA Meteor Shower Portal and look for colored dots—those indicate meteors associated with the active meteor shower. The June full moon, known as the Strawberry Moon, rises over St Paul's Cathedral and The Shard in central London on June 22, 2024. Photograph by Peter Macdiarmid, eyevine/Redux The full Strawberry Moon rises behind the Empire State Building in New York City on June 21, 2024. Photograph by Gary Hershorn, Getty Images
This month's full moon, known as the "Strawberry Moon," won't take on the red hue of its namesake fruit, but it is lovely nonetheless. The nickname, popularized by the Farmers' Almanac, is derived from Indigenous traditions in North America that link full moons to annual harvesting and hunting events. In June, that's the ripening of wild strawberries.
(Learn about the lunar cycle and the origins of each month's full moon name.)
Old European nicknames for the June full moon include the Mead or Honey Moon. According to NASA, this might be tied to the honey harvesting that happens during this month—and it could be the inspiration for the modern honeymoon, as ancient traditions called for June weddings. Mars and Regulus meet, and a "well-placed" Butterfly Cluster—June 16
Mars and the bright star Regulus—known for its colorful twinkling—will have a close encounter on June 16, with peak viewing occurring around 90 minutes after sunset. Regulus is a four-star system, as opposed to a single star, but only three of those four individual stars will be visible during this event through the eye of a telescope.
Then, around midnight, the Butterfly Cluster will be "well-placed" in the night sky, reaching its highest point above the horizon. To see this butterfly-shaped open cluster of stars, grab a pair of binoculars. The summer Milky Way filling the night sky at Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. The pink glow of the Lagoon Nebula can be seen above the horizon, in the Milky Way galaxy's core. Composite Photograph by Alan Dyer, VW Pics/UIG/Getty Images
Star clusters aren't the only "well-placed" celestial objects this month. The Lagoon Nebula, or Messier 8, is a swirling cloud of interstellar gas where stars are born, located some 5,200 light years away. It reaches its highest point in the night sky around midnight on June 22.
From mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere, the Lagoon Nebula can sometimes be seen with the naked eye under ideal viewing conditions. Otherwise, binoculars or a telescope is the best way to spot them. Prime stargazing conditions—June 25
On this night, there's a new moon lunar cycle, which means the sky will be plenty dark for stargazing. While brighter celestial objects like planets and stars are typically visible through the moon's light pollution, dimmer ones like distant galaxies and nebulae will be easier to see during the new moon, particularly through a telescope.
(These are the best stargazing sites in North America.)
If you're a photographer, this is the perfect time to try your hand at astrophotography. In the Northern Hemisphere, the Milky Way's galactic core rises high in the night sky throughout the summer, making it a prime focal point. A Bootid meteor seen photographed in June 2018. Photograph by Steve Dudrow, Getty Images
The Bootids are a notoriously variable meteor shower, producing astonishing displays of hundreds of shooting stars some years, and just a few other years.
If you're willing to try your luck, the meteor shower is expected to peak on June 27. And luck is already on your side—the moon will be barely illuminated as a waxing crescent, so it won't impede your view of fainter shooting stars. Close approach of the moon and Mars—June 30
To close out the month, the waxing crescent moon and Mars will put on a little show. Our celestial neighbors will pass within 1°16' of each other; if you hold your arm out fully toward the moon and stick your pinky finger up, your finger's width is about the distance between the pair, so you'll be able to see them simultaneously through binoculars.
Keep an eye out for the "earthshine" phenomenon, where light reflected from Earth makes the unlit part of the crescent moon glow faintly. This most commonly happens just after sunset or right before sunrise.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
The Milky Way brightens the moonless summer sky this week: Here's where to look
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Head away from city lights in late July to see the dense core of the Milky Way arcing towards the southwestern horizon against a blissfully dark sky as the waning lunar disk approaches its new moon phase. Our solar system orbits within a 100,000-light-year-wide spiral galaxy known as the Milky Way. On clear nights under dark skies, we can see the profile of our galactic home from within — the galactic plane — stretching across the inky darkness as a glowing band of milky light interspersed with dense filaments of cosmic clouds. Different aspects of the Milky Way become visible to us as Earth makes its year-long circuit around the sun. In the warm summer months of July and August, viewers in the northern hemisphere can gaze directly towards the core of our galaxy, while the winter months give us a better view of the outer spiral arms of the Milky Way. From a dark sky site, viewers in the northern hemisphere will see the ribbon-like form of our galaxy stretching towards the southern horizon, passing through the constellations of Cygnus and Aquila, before tumbling towards the southern horizon past Sagittarius and the tail of Scorpius. How to photograph the Milky Way We asked award winning astrophotographer Josh Dury for some tips on capturing the Milky Way. "When photographing the milky way, it is best to photograph its presence amongst the night-sky from dark-sky locations," Dury told in an email. "Not only will this result in more contrast and brighter appearance, [but] there are more details to see in the structure of the galactic core and further afield." Our galaxy will make for a particularly splendid sight on the dark nights surrounding the new moon phase on July 24, at which time the moon appears during the day alongside the sun, leaving the nights blissfully dark for viewing the ancient light of the galactic plane. Stargazers hoping to get the best view of the Milky Way should head out a few hours after sunset and allow at least half an hour for their eyes to acclimatise to the dark. Observing from a dark sky location will help reveal the true glory of our galaxy, so be sure to check out a website like to find the best spot near you. "Deploy the Milky Way creatively within your image. Think about the context of the image and how the inclusion of the Milky Way can lend itself to your subject matter, framing and story," explained Dury. "Let as much light into your camera that is technically possible, but do not over do it on the ISO - this will result in a grainy image and harder to resolve finer detail." Further advice on capturing the Milky Way and a range of other night sky targets can be found in Dury's first book, '52 Assignments: Night Photography', which was released earlier this year and can now be purchased through Photographers looking to upgrade their gear should check out our guide to the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography in 2025. Those looking for a closer view of the night sky should also read our roundups of the top telescopes and binoculars for exploring the post-sunset realm. Editor's Note: If you capture an image of the Milky Way and want to share it with readers, then please send your photo(s) and name alongside your comments and shooting location to spacephotos@ Full of workshops, prompts and a personalized journal, "52 Assignments: Night Photography" is a must-have for any astrophotographer. View Deal
National Geographic
2 days ago
- National Geographic
Cosmic radiation gave the Fantastic Four superpowers. Here's what would happen in real life.
When we gaze up at the night sky, we often marvel at the twinkling stars, distant planets, and expansive galaxies. Yet, beyond the visible spectrum lies a more mysterious aspect of the cosmos—cosmic radiation. These are high energy particles that stream through the universe at nearly the speed of light, according to Dimitra Atri of the Mars Research Group at New York University Abu Dhabi's Center for Astrophysics and Space Science. They originate from events like supernova explosions and solar flares and travel through space, constantly bombarding Earth in all directions and entering its atmosphere. (How cosmic rays helped find a tunnel in Egypt's Great Pyramid.) In Marvel Studios' The Fantastic Four: First Steps, now playing only in theaters, the Fantastic 4 receive their powers after being exposed to cosmic radiation that alters their DNA on a fundamental level. While these high-speed particles unfortunately won't give you superpowers in real life, they can permeate the human body. At high doses, cosmic rays can tear through DNA molecules and damage biological tissue. Prolonged exposure to cosmic radiation can increase the risk of cancer, cataracts, and reproductive problems. It can also hinder neurogenesis, the process of generating new cells in the brain. But just how much the human body is exposed to this type of radiation and how it'll influence our health will vary depending on altitude and what measures are taken to protect us from them. Here's what you should know. How cosmic radiation affects you if you stay on Earth Here on Earth, we have a natural defense system against cosmic radiation that safeguards life on the planet: Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. The atmosphere absorbs most of the energy from cosmic radiation, letting only a small fraction reach the Earth's surface. Our planet's magnetic field, produced by electric currents in the Earth's core, shields the planet from most harmful space radiation. Cosmic rays that reach the Earth's surface have been recorded by the vapor trails they leave in bubble chambers, such as the above recording from Bubble Chamber-924 in July 1960. Photograph by Science Source/Science Photo Library When the Apollo crews returned from the moon, small dents were found in their helmets caused by impacts from cosmic rays. The above is a magnified view of a silicone test helmet replica. Photograph by NYPL/Science Source/Science Photo Library On average, people on Earth's surface are exposed to around three millisieverts of radiation per year. (Sieverts, frequently expressed in millisieverts, are a unit used to measure the dose of radiation that affects the human body.) However, elevation matters. 'As you move up, the thickness of the atmosphere lessens and you're exposed to more radiation,' Atri says. The higher a person is in altitude, the less atmospheric protection they will receive from cosmic particles. People in high-altitude locations, such as Denver—known as "The Mile High City"—experience slightly elevated cosmic radiation levels than those who are at sea level in places like Miami. How cosmic radiation affects you when you fly When air travel takes us to higher altitudes, it also brings us closer to the highly energetic particles emanating from outer space. While a plane passenger is exposed to elevated levels of cosmic radiation, the radiation they receive in one flight is insignificant. For example, a coast-to-coast round-trip flight is about equal to the radiation dose of a single chest X-ray. Pilots, flight attendants, and frequent flyers, however, face increased exposure to cosmic radiation because of how often they're in the sky. One Harvard University study concluded that radiation exposure contributed to occupational health issues within flight crews and job-related cancer risks. Other research found that aircrew typically receive more radiation exposure than workers at nuclear facilities. 'Still, it is not enough to cause that much damage because you are still within the magnetic field of the Earth, and there is still an atmosphere,' Atri adds. How cosmic radiation affects you when you leave the planet After venturing beyond Earth's protective atmosphere, spacefaring humans face significant radiation exposure levels. The human body in space would be constantly pelted with high-energy particles. (What toll does spaceflight take on astronauts? Here's what we know.) Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits the Earth at an altitude of 400 kilometers, or 260 miles, are exposed to much higher levels of radiation than those on Earth's surface. In just one week aboard the ISS, astronauts are exposed to the same cosmic radiation the average human would receive at sea level on Earth in a year. Astronauts traveling to farther reaches of the cosmos—on missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond—would be exposed to even more cosmic rays during transit and arrival to their destination. Because of this, many space agencies have proposed career-long radiation dose limits on how much radiation spacefaring astronauts can be exposed to. An instrument aboard the Curiosity Mars rover during its 253-day trek to Mars revealed that the radiation dose received by an astronaut on a trip there and back alone would be about 0.66 sieverts—the equivalent of 660 chest X-rays. And while Earth's atmosphere protects it from most of the cosmos' barrage of radiation, Mars' slight atmosphere—about 100 times thinner than Earth's—allows a lot of that radiation in. Using the Curiosity rover's measurements, researchers estimate a 500-day mission on the Red Planet's surface would bring the total exposure to around one sieverts; that's about 10 times the radiation dose an astronaut receives during a six-month mission on the ISS. Researchers have proposed a number of spacecraft designs with shields made of water, hydrogen-rich materials, or planetary material that can offer a potentially safer trip through the cosmos by absorbing radiation. Phantom Torsos, such as the one seen above, are anatomical models built with hundreds of radiation monitoring devices that allow researchers to calculate the amount of radiation that penetrates internal organs during space travel. While space suits offer some protection from cosmic rays, timing extravehicular activities during periods of low solar activity is the best means of protection. There is also ongoing research surrounding shelter designs that, once astronauts have reached their destination, can be buried or shielded to reduce radiation exposure. 'When you're on the surface, you can use Mars' soil to build habitats,' Atri says. 'You can build somethingunderground that gives you natural shielding. That should be sufficient to basically get rid of the most extreme component of damaging radiation.' Cosmic radiation is a major challenge for interplanetary travel, prompting medical experts to also consider medications that can lessen its impact on the human body. 'It's a very interdisciplinary field,' Atri says. 'We have medical professionals, physicists, engineers, psychologists—everyone has to be on board.' Despite our growing knowledge of these mysterious charged particles, Atri says we need more data to fully understand how to protect humans from exposure if we want to explore the far reaches of the cosmos. Unless you have any space travel planned in the near future, you can rest assured you won't be feeling many negative health effects—or experiencing superpowers—from cosmic radiation. Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" is now playing only in theaters.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Forbes
Don't Miss This Weekend's Sky Show As The Moon Meets Regulus
The beautiful winter skies showing the moon, Venus, and Jupiter This weekend, a beautiful crescent moon will dominate the post-sunset evening sky. On Saturday, July 26, it will shine close to Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Here's everything you need to know to see the crescent moon at its brilliant best this weekend. Where And When To Look Be outside shortly after sunset on Saturday and look toward the western horizon. The waxing crescent moon will be low in the sky but relatively easy to see. Just to its right — about two degrees away, or roughly the width of a finger held at arm's length — you'll find the bright, bluish star Regulus shining at magnitude 1.3. What You'll See The crescent moon is just 6%-lit, displaying Earthshine (sunlight reflected by Earth onto the lunar surface) on its dark limb. Regulus will shine steadily nearby. About 79 light-years from the solar system, Regulus is the brightest star in the constellation Leo, often called 'The Lion's Heart.' Saturday, July 26: Waxing Crescent Moon And Regulus Observing Tips Plan to observe soon after sunset because this conjunction will only last about 30–45 minutes before setting. Since both the moon and Regulus will stay low, so seek out a location with a clear and unobstructed view of the western sky. A rooftop, open park, or hilltop will give you the best chance to enjoy this close conjunction before the moon and Regulus set. You won't need any special equipment to enjoy this pairing, though binoculars will give you a great view of Earthshine on the moon. What's Next In The Night Sky Come back the next evening, on Sunday, July 27, and you'll see the crescent moon bulge a little as it approaches Mars. Overnight on July 29-30, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower will peak, offering a pre-dawn display of shooting stars. For exact timings, use a sunrise and sunset calculator for where you are, Stellarium Web for a sky chart and Night Sky Tonight: Visible Planets at Your Location for positions and rise/set times for planets. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
