Jupiter and Saturn are travelling together this summer, so it’s not surprising that they both end up near the Moon at the same time. Watch for them in the early morning on June 8, when they’re within 2 and 3 degrees, respectively. A few days later, on the 12th, Luna meets up with Mars and Neptune, just before sunrise. On the 16th, Uranus is within 4 degrees of the Moon. On the 19th, Venus is occulted for observers in northern and eastern Canada, plus northern Europe and Asia. The Moon is new on the 20th, and, as expected, a little more than 14 days after the lunar eclipse, an annular solar eclipse occurs (because the Moon is at apogee on the 14th, at the most distant point in its orbit, it’s not quite capable of fully covering the Sun, thus an annulus surrounds the Moon in an annular eclipse). The eclipse begins in central and eastern Africa, across the Arabian Peninsula, northern India, southern China, and out into the Pacific Ocean. Dedicated eclipse chasers are hoping the COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t cancel their travel plans.
Mercury is visible in the western evening sky, achieving greatest eastern elongation on the 4th, well placed for Northern Hemisphere viewers until mid-month.
Venus is right in front of the Sun (inferior conjunction) in June 3, and by mid-month is the Morning Star before eastern sunrise. Watch for the occultation by the Moon on the 19th, a close approach for western Canadians.
Mars is an early morning object, gradually getting brighter and appearing larger. On the 12th, it is 1.7 degrees south of Neptune and 3 degrees north of the Moon.
Jupiter rises before midnight, promising to be a summer attraction at star parties. The Galilean moons always provide a pleasing experience for first-time viewers through a telescope. Their daily dance around the giant planet changes by the hour. Three dates see double-shadow transits across the face of Jupiter, June 4, 11, and 18. The waning gibbous Moon joins Jupiter and Saturn on the 8th. Jupiter is retrograding throughout all of June, appearing to move westward.
Saturn, also retrograding, moves along with Jupiter in the late evening sky. It, too, promises to attract “Ooohs” and “Aws” for first-time viewers. Nothing beats seeing the rings of the planet against the black backdrop of space.
Uranus is 4 degrees north of the Moon on the 16th, becoming increasingly difficult to see as the blue-green planet hugs the morning horizon just before sunup.
Neptune is also in the morning sky, and a difficult object because of the low angle of the ecliptic. Neptune and the Moon bracket Mars on the 12th.
Summer solstice is on June 20 at 21:44 UT.
James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000, was National President for two terms, is now the Editor of the renowned Observer’s Handbook, and Production Manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. The IAU named asteroid 1995 XC5 “(22421) Jamesedgar” in his honour.
-James Edgar
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