What’s Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA Science

What’s Up: June 2024 Skywatching Tips from NASA – NASA Science

What’s Up for June? Saturn and Mars meet up with the Moon, Jupiter returns at dawn, and tips for identifying some common objects seen in the sky.

All month, the planetary action continues to be in the morning sky, with Saturn and Mars rising in the early morning hours. Later in the month, Jupiter joins the celestial lineup. On June 2nd, in the hour before sunrise, reddish Mars hangs beneath the crescent Moon, with Saturn lurking nearby. The following morning, June 3rd, the Moon sits beneath Mars in morning twilight.

As June progresses, giant Jupiter re-emerges as a morning planet, visible low in the east before sunrise. By June 24th, Jupiter can be found about 10 degrees above the horizon as the morning sky brightens, forming a celestial alignment with Mars and Saturn that stretches toward the south. On June 27th, the Moon rises in the east with Saturn around midnight, appearing close together in the southern sky by dawn.

When observing bright objects in the night sky, distinguishing between planets, stars, satellites, and aircraft can sometimes be challenging. Planets like Venus and Jupiter can appear very bright, while stars twinkle due to atmospheric distortion. Planets, with their slightly more spread-out illumination, appear more constant in brightness through binoculars or a telescope.

Satellites and aircraft have distinct characteristics that differentiate them from planets and stars. Aircraft follow slow, steady paths with flashing lights, while satellites appear fainter and move steadily without blinking lights. Rocket launches near sunset or sunrise can also create unique visual displays in the night sky.

Understanding these common sights can enhance your skywatching experience and help you explore the mysteries and wonders of the night sky. Stay informed about NASA’s missions exploring the solar system and beyond at science.nasa.gov. Happy stargazing!