4 sky events to catch this June, from the solstice to Venus's glow

June is offering a bounty of celestial events. From bright and beautiful moon sightings to the shining light of Venus, this month brings forth a sense of magic and wonder. The month will also witness the longest day of the year during the summer solstice.
Be it watching from your backyard with friends or catching up on a livestream, these celestial events promise to offer a visual treat for everyone. Below is a list of sky events to watch out for this month.
This year's summer solstice for the Northern Hemisphere will happen on June 20 at 10:45 pm EDT (2:42 GMT). During this time, the Northern Hemisphere will be closest to the Sun. It also brings the longest day and the shortest night of the year, marking the beginning of summer. On the other hand, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted farther from the Sun. Here it will be the shortest day and the longest night of the year, essentially the beginning of the winter. The summer solstice for the Southern Hemisphere will take place on December 21 at 10:03 am EST (15:03 GMT).
The New Moon will occur on June 25 at 10:31 GMT (4:01 PM IST). This phenomenon happens when the moon aligns directly between the Earth and the sun. During this time, the moon's shadowed side is pointed towards the Earth. Since the Moon won't be visible in the sky, it offers the perfect opportunity for stargazing. With no bright moonlight, you will be able to see deep-sky objects and even the Milky Way.
On June 29 at 08:20 GMT (1:50 PM IST), Saturn and Neptune will appear close to each other in the sky in the constellation Pisces. One can see Saturn (which shines at magnitude 1.0) with your eyes, but Neptune is much dimmer (magnitude 7.9), so you'll need binoculars or a telescope to spot it.
Also Read | Strawberry Moon 2025: Date, time, how to watch in India and why it's special
This is the first of three times the two planets will appear close together in what's called a 'triple conjunction'. This happens because both planets will start moving backward in the sky (a motion called 'retrograde'): Neptune on July 5 and Saturn on July 14. They will meet again on August 6, 2025, and February 16, 2026.
Between 22:57 GMT on June 29 and 03:35 GMT on June 30, the Moon will move in front of Mars and hide it for a short time. This rare event is called a lunar occultation and can be seen from places like western Peru, Ecuador, western Colombia, and Clipperton Island.
June 2025 is packed with amazing things to see in the sky, which includes, on June 1, Venus shining brightly in the morning. On June 7, look out for daytime meteors. The Full Moon on June 11 was the most extreme of the year, and on June 30, the Moon will pass in front of Mars in a rare event called a lunar occultation.
To keep up with all these events, try the free Sky Tonight app. It shows what's happening in the sky from where you are stargazing and sends alerts for space events.
(This article has been curated by Disha Gupta, who is an intern with The Indian Express.)

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

News18

17 hours ago

• News18

Summer Solstice 2025: History, Traditions, & How to Celebrate Longest Day Of The Year

Last Updated: Summer Solstice 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere will occur on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 PM EDT, which is Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 8:12 AM IST. Summer Solstice 2025: The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year and usually falls between June 20 and June 22. Also known as the midsummer or Estival solstice, its name comes from the Latin terms 'sol" (sun) and 'sistere" (to stand still), symbolising the moment when the sun seems to pause at its peak in the sky. This celestial event carries deep cultural, historical and scientific importance, and is honoured with diverse traditions and celebrations across the globe. What Is Summer Solstice And What Causes It? The Summer Solstice 2025 in the Northern Hemisphere will occur on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 PM EDT, which is Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 8:12 AM IST (or 2:42 AM GMT). It marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest in the Southern Hemisphere. This event happens because Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees. During this time of the year, the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the sun, causing the sun to appear higher in the sky at midday and extending daylight hours. Summer Solstice History The term 'solstice" comes from the Latin words sol, meaning sun, and sistere, meaning to stand still or stop. This astronomical event takes place twice a year — once in the Northern Hemisphere between June 20 and 22, and once in the Southern Hemisphere between December 20 and 23, depending on the calendar year and time zone. Ancient civilisations observed how the sun's position in the sky, daylight duration and sunrise/sunset points changed consistently throughout the year. Many even constructed structures, such as Stonehenge in England, to track these solar movements, honour the sun, and predict seasonal changes. During the June solstice, the North Pole tilts most directly towards the sun, while the South Pole leans furthest away. This tilt causes areas north of the equator to experience daylight lasting longer than 12 hours, while those south of the equator have shorter days. A few thousand years ago, the summer solstice occurred when the sun was positioned in the constellation Cancer (Latin for 'crab"). This is how the latitude line known as the Tropic of Cancer got its name. On the June solstice, the sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky—directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer—appears to pause briefly, and then begins to shift southward again. Contrary to what some may think, the sun's path on this day isn't a straight line—it forms a curved arc across the sky. Due to this extreme position, sunlight enters parts of homes and buildings that usually remain in shadow the rest of the year. On the summer solstice, the sun rises at its farthest point to the northeast and sets at its farthest northwest location. The date of the solstice isn't the same every year. It falls on June 20, 21 or 22, depending on Earth's orbit and tilt, not our human-made calendar. This variability is due to astronomical mechanics, not man-made timekeeping. Summer Solstice Traditions Around The World Across cultures, the Summer Solstice has inspired unique traditions that honour the power of the sun: Stonehenge Gathering (UK): Thousands gather to watch the sunrise align with ancient stones. Midsummer (Sweden): Celebrated with flower crowns, folk dances and feasts under the midnight sun. Kupala Night (Eastern Europe): Involves bonfires, dancing and jumping over flames to bring good luck. Inti Raymi (Peru): An Incan sun festival held in Cusco with colourful parades and ceremonies. Yoga (India/Global): Coinciding with the solstice, people practice yoga at sunrise to promote wellness. Sunrise Salutations (USA): Spiritual communities gather at dawn in parks or on beaches for meditation and rituals. Fire Festivals (Spain): Towns light bonfires to symbolise the burning away of bad energy and to welcome abundance. Floral Offerings (Hawaii): Locals present leis and perform hula dances in celebration of La, the sun god. How To Celebrate The Longest Day Of The Year? You don't need ancient ruins or crowds to enjoy the solstice. Start your day early by watching the sunrise—ideally from a rooftop, hill or beach. Practice a few sun salutations or light stretching outdoors to greet the day. Spend time in nature—go hiking, swim in a lake, or simply walk barefoot on the grass. Create a backyard picnic with sun-themed foods like citrus salads, honey cakes and iced herbal teas. Decorate your space with sunflowers, candles and anything golden. At sunset, light a small bonfire or candle and reflect on your goals for the season ahead. Whether alone or with loved ones, embrace the light—literally and metaphorically. About the Author Bhaswati Sengupta Bhaswati Sengupta is a Sub-Editor at News18, where she works closely with the Web Stories and Photo Gallery team to create visually engaging and impactful digital content. She also contributes to Lifestyle More First Published:

NDTV

a day ago

• NDTV

Summer Solstice 2025: When Is The Longest Day Of Year & What Does It Mean?

As summer approaches, the Northern Hemisphere anticipates the Summer Solstice 2025, marking the longest day of the year. This astronomical event occurs when the Earth's axial tilt is most inclined towards the Sun, resulting in the greatest number of daylight hours and the shortest night. When is the Summer Solstice 2025? The Summer Solstice 2025 will take place on Friday, June 20, 2025, at 10:42 PM EDT (0242 GMT on June 21). The exact moment signifies the beginning of summer and the peak of daylight for the Northern Hemisphere. Why Does the Summer Solstice Occur? The summer solstice occurs because Earth's North Pole is tilted closest to the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its highest point in the sky. This alignment results in extended daylight hours, with early sunrises and late sunsets for regions in the Northern Hemisphere. What Does "Solstice" Mean? The term "solstice," derived from the Latin "solstitium" (meaning "sun stands still"), refers to the point when the Sun's apparent motion in the sky pauses before changing direction. Historical Significance of the Summer Solstice The solstice traditionally symbolises the start of summer and has captivated civilisations for millennia. Ancient Greeks like Eratosthenes used the solstice to accurately measure Earth's size. Structures like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu were strategically built to align with the sun during solstices, and in Egypt, the Great Pyramids and Sphinx align with the solstice sunset, demonstrating ancient peoples' deep understanding of the Sun's movements. Earth's Tilt and Its Impact Due to Earth's tilted axis of approximately 23.5 degrees, the Northern Hemisphere receives sunlight at its most direct angle during the solstice, while the Southern Hemisphere enters winter, experiencing its shortest day and longest night. At the solstice's precise moment, the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, an imaginary line 23.5 degrees north of the equator, marking the beginning of the Sun's southward journey.

Mint

2 days ago

• Mint

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's FIRST reaction after Starship prototype explodes during ground test: ‘Room for improvement'

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has acknowledged the latest setback in the company's Mars ambitions after a Starship prototype exploded during a ground test in southern Texas. Musk took to his social media platform X, sharing a post from the space-focused accountSpace Sudoer. The post showed images of the incident with the caption 'Just a scratch.' Musk added his own understated remark: 'Room for improvement.' The prototype vehicle, designated Starship 36, was undergoing a static fire test at SpaceX's Starbase facility on Wednesday night when it experienced what authorities described as a 'catastrophic failure'. The test, which involves firing the rocket's engines while it remains anchored to the launch pad, resulted in an explosion shortly after 11:00 pm local time (04:00 GMT Thursday). Dramatic footage shared online captured the moment of the blast, showing a sudden flash followed by a massive fireball engulfing the rocket and launch tower. In a statement issued after the event, SpaceX confirmed the failure, stating that Starship 36 encountered 'a major anomaly while on a test stand at Starbase.' While the exact cause remains unknown, the company emphasised that all necessary safety measures had been followed. 'A safety clear area around the site was maintained throughout the operation, and all personnel are safe and accounted for,' it said. Cameron County officials echoed the assurance, adding that there was no immediate threat to nearby communities. Authorities also advised residents to stay away from the area while 'safing' procedures continued. The explosion is the latest in a series of high-profile incidents to affect the Starship programme, which forms the backbone of Musk's vision to transform humanity into a multiplanetary species. The Starship rocket, which stands at 123 metres and is designed to be fully reusable, aims to carry up to 150 metric tonnes of cargo and crew into orbit and beyond. Despite repeated setbacks, SpaceX remains committed to the programme, describing such incidents as critical learning moments in the development of the world's most powerful launch system. No timeline has yet been announced for the next test, but SpaceX is expected to analyse the data thoroughly before proceeding with future launches.