🌌 Circumpolar Constellations (Best viewed 10:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.)

Circumpolar constellations never set and are visible year-round, but their positions shift. In June, these are high in the sky or wrapped around the North Star.

Ursa Major (The Great Bear)

  • Naked Eye: Look for the Big Dipper asterism in the northwest. It’s tilted downward like it’s “pouring” water.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Use binoculars to explore Mizar and Alcor, a famous double star in the handle. Small telescopes reveal M81 and M82, two galaxies near the bowl of the Dipper.

Ursa Minor (The Little Bear)

  • Naked Eye: Find Polaris at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle—it stays nearly fixed in the sky.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Polaris is a binary star; a small telescope will show its fainter companion.

Draco (The Dragon)

  • Naked Eye: Winds between Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. The head forms a lozenge shape.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Aim for the Cat’s Eye Nebula (NGC 6543) in the head—small scopes will show a fuzzy dot with a greenish tint.

Cepheus (The King)

  • Naked Eye: House-shaped constellation near Polaris.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Look for Mu Cephei (The Garnet Star), a deep red supergiant easily visible in binoculars.

🌟 Seasonal Constellations (East to West)

These are the constellations best seen in June evenings between 10 p.m. and 1 a.m., progressing from the eastern horizon to the west.

East: Lyra (The Lyre)

  • Naked Eye: Bright Vega is unmistakable—part of the Summer Triangle.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Seek out Epsilon Lyrae, the “Double Double Star”, and M57 (Ring Nebula) between Beta and Gamma Lyrae—visible in a small telescope as a faint smoke ring.

Southeast: Cygnus (The Swan / Northern Cross)

  • Naked Eye: Deneb marks the tail; the cross shape stretches westward.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Explore the North America Nebula (NGC 7000) near Deneb. Binoculars under dark skies may show a fuzzy patch.

South: Scorpius (The Scorpion)

  • Naked Eye: Look for the bright red-orange star Antares and the curving tail low in the southern sky.

  • Binocular/Telescope: M4, a globular cluster near Antares, is a standout target in binoculars. Also look for M6 (Butterfly Cluster) and M7 (Ptolemy Cluster) farther down the tail.

Southwest: Libra (The Scales)

  • Naked Eye: Less prominent; look for a trapezoid shape west of Scorpius.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Home to a few double stars. Zubenelgenubi is a widely spaced binary visible in binoculars.

West: Leo (The Lion)

  • Naked Eye: The “Sickle” shape forms the lion’s head; Regulus is the bright blue-white star at its base.

  • Binocular/Telescope: Use binoculars to try spotting M65 and M66, spiral galaxies in the lion’s haunch (best under dark skies).

🌙 The Moon – Phases & Noteworthy Events

  • First Quarter: June 6

  • Full Moon: June 14

  • Last Quarter: June 21

  • New Moon: June 28

Highlights:

  • The Full Moon on June 14 is the “Strawberry Moon”, named by Algonquin tribes for the wild strawberry harvest.

  • Around New Moon on June 28, conditions are best for deep-sky observing due to minimal moonlight.

☄️ Meteor Showers & Noteworthy Events

Meteor Showers

  • June Boötids:

    • Peak: Around June 27

    • Rate: Variable, usually 1–5 meteors per hour, but sometimes surges

    • Radiant: Near the constellation Boötes

    • Best viewing: After midnight under dark skies, especially with the New Moon aiding visibility

Planetary Highlights

  • Saturn: Rises around midnight in the east; best in early morning, but possible in the late session (~1:00 a.m.).

  • Jupiter: Low in the east near dawn; difficult to catch unless you’re up very late.

  • Mars and Venus: Best seen in early morning; not ideal for late evening observation in June.

🔭 Tips and Tricks for June Stargazing

  1. Summer Triangle: Mark the start of summer skies by finding Vega (Lyra), Deneb (Cygnus), and Altair (Aquila). Learn to star-hop from Vega to find M57.

  2. Dark Adaptation: Avoid white light for 20–30 minutes before serious observing. Use a red flashlight.

  3. Binocular Boost: 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars are ideal for stargazing—lightweight, wide field of view, and great for clusters and galaxies.

  4. Observe from the South: If possible, face south where the Milky Way and summer constellations rise high.

  5. Log Your Observations: Keep a notebook or app journal to track what you see and your conditions. This will help you learn faster.

  6. Use Apps or Star Charts: Sky apps (e.g., SkySafari, Stellarium) make it easier to orient yourself, especially when just starting out.

  7. Go Higher, Get Darker: Try to find a location with minimal light pollution. Even getting to the edge of a town can make a big difference.