:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TAL-strawberry-moon-nyc-JUNESKY0624jpg-a1520f2e186c4cad92f4356041b3d7fb.jpg "From a 'Daytime Meteor Shower,' to Potential Aurora Activity, and a Strawberry Moon — Here's What's What to See in the Sky in June (1)")
The total solar eclipse may have been 2024’s most anticipated astronomical event, but last month’s aurora bonanza proved there’s much more night-sky fun to come this year — including increased chances to see the northern lights as soon as this month.
That’s right. The sun has nearly completed its 27-day rotation since May 10, when a powerful solar storm brought northern lights to nearly all 50 states. The highly active sunspot that caused this historic aurora show is yet again pointing in the direction of Earth. According to Space.com, this could bring a fresh flurry of lights in early June, although the chances of them reaching the magnitude of last month’s show are slim.
Even if June lights don’t show, rest assured that more ribbons are on the horizon. The sun is moving toward “solar maximum” — the roughly 11-year peak of aurora activity — which means we’ll enjoy increased northern lights possibilities within the next roughly 12 to 18 months.
And June has plenty of its own night-sky marvels on the docket, too. From planet parades to a strawberry moon, here’s everything to watch for this month.
June 3: Planetary Parade
The who’s who of the night sky will align above the northeast to southeast horizon on June 3. Early this morning, a planetary parade with six of our neighbors will rise in tandem: Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. According to stargazing app Star Walk, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn will be visible to the naked eye; you’ll need a telescope or stargazing binoculars to spot dimmer Neptune and Uranus. It will be a race against morning light to see all the planets at once. Jupiter and Mercury won’t rise above the eastern horizon until just before sunrise. For best viewing, find a location with an open view to the eastern horizon.
June 4: Jupiter-Mercury Conjunction
A history-making planet conjunction is coming on June 4. At 6:04 a.m. EDT, Mercury and Jupiter will reach their closest conjunction until 2059, according to stargazing app Star Walk. Unfortunately, the moment of conjunction will be washed out by the rising sun, but you can still catch the pair before sunrise on the eastern horizon.
June 5: Moon near Pleiades, Jupiter, and Mercury
The eastern horizon planet party will continue raging in the early morning through much of this month, but June 5 will be extra special for fans of Pleiades, a bright and naked-eye visible star cluster. The waning crescent moon will lie just beneath the star cluster right before sunrise on the morning of June 5. Jupiter and Mercury will glow right below the pair, too. Find Mars, Neptune, and Saturn above the east-southeast horizon around the same time.
June 7: Arietid ‘Daytime Meteor Shower’ Peak
The Arietid meteor shower, which runs from May 29 to June 17, is expected to peak on June 7, according to EarthSky.org. It’s a powerful event producing anywhere from 60 to 200 meteors per hour — but there’s a catch. The Arietids is a daytime meteor shower. That means the bulk of the activity hits during daylight, when it’s too bright to see the shooting stars. All is not lost, though. You may be able to catch a few zipping meteors early the morning of the shower’s peak, on June 7. To spot them, look to the constellation Aries.
June 20: Summer Solstice
June 20 officially marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, not to mention the start of summer. Cultural celebrations across the globe mark this milestone, from the gathering at Stonehenge (catch the livestream here) to the mountaintop bonfires in Austrian Tyrol. The official moment of summer solstice — the time of the sun’s northernmost point in the sky — hits at 4:50 p.m. EDT, according to EarthSky.
June 21: Full Strawberry Moon
This month’s full moon, which earned its name from Native American communities, marks the proliferation of strawberries that ripen around this time each year. According to Time and Date, it will reach its fullest at 9:07 p.m. on June 21. The June full moon will also appear low in the sky, making it the perfect time to take moon-against-city-skyline photos, according to Digital Camera World.
