Don't miss June's night sky! You can spot stunning stars, planets, and constellations; here's how you can see them
If you've been meaning to spend more time under the stars, June is a great month to start. As summer warms up the Northern Hemisphere, the skies open up with some of the most breathtaking views of planets, stars, and constellations of the entire year.
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From the glowing crescent of Venus rising before dawn to Mercury making a rare, visible appearance after sunset, the cosmic lineup is both diverse and dazzling. Add in Saturn's slow return and Mars' colorful tango with Regulus, and you've got skywatching opportunities nearly every night.
Whether you're a telescope owner, a casual stargazer, or someone simply looking up after dinner, there's something worth spotting nearly every day this month.
Here's your detailed guide to what's visible in June — and when and how to catch the best celestial events.
Catch the Milky Way rising in June's night sky
Let's start with the starry showstopper — the Milky Way. If you're in a dark-sky area away from city lights, look toward the southern sky around midnight. The dense, star-packed core of our galaxy begins to rise earlier each night. From mid to late June, it stretches across the sky like a cosmic river. No telescope needed — just your eyes and clear skies.
Mercury and the Moon share the spotlight on June 26
Mercury doesn't usually stick around long enough to get noticed, but this month it's putting on a decent show. Starting around mid-June, look low on the northwest horizon about an hour after sunset. It'll be just left of the twin stars of Gemini, Castor and Pollux, toward the final week of the month.
Best night : June 26 — a slim crescent moon joins Mercury in the twilight sky for a picture-perfect moment.
: June 26 — a slim crescent moon joins Mercury in the twilight sky for a picture-perfect moment. Pro tip: Use binoculars to spot it in the fading light. Mercury shines at zero magnitude, so it'll appear as a bright 'star' hugging the horizon.
June mornings belong to Venus — don't miss it
If you're an early riser, Venus is your reward. Rising nearly 2.5 hours before the sun, it starts the month shining about 10 degrees above the eastern horizon at dawn, climbing to 20 degrees by the end of June.
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That's enough altitude to spot it easily even from city locations.
Though it reaches greatest western elongation on June 1 — appearing 46 degrees west of the sun — it won't appear highest in the sky until August for those at mid-northern latitudes. Through a telescope, Venus transitions from a 'half phase' early in the month to a more rounded gibbous shape by June 30.
Mars and Regulus form a celestial duo this month
Over in the west just after sunset, Mars — still glowing a soft orange — meets up with Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo.
Regulus has a bluish-white hue, and their close pairing creates a subtle but stunning color contrast in the sky.
Closest approach: June 17 — the two are just 0.75 degrees apart (about the width of a pinky finger at arm's length). Mars will appear just above Regulus in the evening sky.
June 17 — the two are just 0.75 degrees apart (about the width of a pinky finger at arm's length). Mars will appear just above Regulus in the evening sky. Bonus view: On June 29, the crescent moon, Mars, and Regulus form a beautiful triangle — definitely worth photographing.
Spot Saturn's tilted rings in June's quiet hours
Saturn is slowly rising higher in the early morning hours and becomes visible after 2:30 a.m. at the start of June, rising around 12:30 a.m. by the end of the month. It sits in the constellation Pisces and shines with a pale yellow-white glow, easy to distinguish from the surrounding stars.
Although the rings aren't as prominent this year — tilted just 3.5 degrees toward Earth — you can still glimpse them through a telescope before dawn.
Keep an eye out for Fomalhaut, the 'lonely star' in the southern sky, which closely matches Saturn's brightness and follows it upward.
Don't look for Jupiter — It's hiding behind the Sun
If you're wondering where Jupiter went — it's taking a break. The gas giant is in conjunction with the sun on June 24, meaning it's too close to the solar glare to be visible. It's shifting from the evening sky to a morning object, but won't be visible until sometime in early July when it begins to rise before dawn again.
June's constellation crossover: From Gemini to Scorpius
June is a transition month in the sky — with spring constellations like Leo and Gemini slowly giving way to summer patterns like Scorpius and Sagittarius.
Leo the Lion remains prominent in the western sky after sunset. Regulus, its heart star, is your main guide.
Gemini the Twins dips lower into the northwest but is still visible. Look for the parallel bright stars Castor and Pollux.
Scorpius begins to rise in the southeast in the late evening. Its bright red star Antares is often mistaken for Mars.
Sagittarius, with its famous "Teapot" asterism, follows shortly behind, pointing the way to the heart of the Milky Way.
June's sky calendar: Mars, Mercury and Moon put on a show
June 17 – Mars-Regulus closest conjunction
June 21 – Look for Mercury about an hour after sunset, low in the northwest
June 24 – Jupiter in solar conjunction (invisible)
June 26 – Crescent Moon joins Mercury in evening twilight
June 29 – Moon, Mars, and Regulus trio at dusk
What you need (and don't) to explore June's celestial sights
You don't need fancy equipment to enjoy June's sky — but a little prep goes a long way.
Binoculars : Great for Mercury, the moon, and even picking out Jupiter's moons when it's back.
: Great for Mercury, the moon, and even picking out Jupiter's moons when it's back. Telescope : Ideal for Venus phases, Saturn's rings, and Mars' tiny disk.
: Ideal for Venus phases, Saturn's rings, and Mars' tiny disk. Dark skies : Escape city lights to fully enjoy the Milky Way, constellations, and meteor activity.
: Escape city lights to fully enjoy the Milky Way, constellations, and meteor activity. Sky apps: Tools like Stellarium or SkySafari can help you track what's where, in real time.
Bonus tip
: To estimate distances in the sky, hold your fist at arm's length — it covers roughly 10 degrees of sky.
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