Astronomy Guide: What to See in the June Night SkyStargazing guide for the June 2024 night sky including deep space objects to observe and moon phases.
Moon Phases in June 2024
June's full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Strawberry Moon because it signalled the time of year to gather ripening fruit.
Thursday, 20 June 2024 is the Summer Solstice. The North Pole of the Earth will be tilted toward the Sun, which will have reached its northernmost position in the sky and will be directly over the Tropic of Cancer at 23.44 degrees north latitude. This is the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
June also marks the start of Noctilucent cloud season.
| June 2024 Moon Phases | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
| 1st | ||||||
| 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th | 7th | 8th |
| 9th | 10th | 11th | 12th | 13th | 14th | 15th |
| 16th | 17th | 18th | 19th | 20th | 21st | 22nd |
| 23rd | 24th | 25th | 26th | 27th | 28th | 29th |
| 30th | ||||||
The Planets in June 2024
On June 3, 2024, a rare celestial event will unfold as the planets in our solar system align in a magnificent display. This alignment, known as a planetary conjunction, occurs when multiple planets appear close to one another in the sky from the perspective of Earth. During this event, observers can witness the convergence of six planets - Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune - in the sky, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle sure to captivate all who see it.
Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn may be visible with the naked eye, but you'll need a telescope or binoculars to see Neptune and Uranus. The best viewing times for this event will be in the early morning hours, around 4-5 am before sunrise, and the best locations for observation would be areas with minimal light pollution, such as rural or remote areas.
Such alignments offer astronomers and stargazers alike a thrilling opportunity to marvel at the wonders of our solar system and deepen their understanding of celestial mechanics. It's a momentous occasion that shouldn't be missed by anyone interested in astronomy and the cosmos, as it provides a unique chance to learn and appreciate the intricate workings of our universe.
Jupiter will pass 7'04" past Mercury on June 4. Unfortunately, due to the planets' proximity to the Sun, the conjunction will be impossible to see from most locations.
June 2024 Deep Space Objects
Summer can be a wonderful time for stargazing and despite the light evenings, there's much to be seen in the night sky at this time of year.
The first stunning summer deep-sky object is the rather large summer Milky Way in Sagittarius, Scutum, Ophiuchus and Aquila. It is a particularly awe-inspiring sight, especially from dark sky sites. To get a good view of it from the UK it is best to travel to a site with a very clear southern horizon.
Nestled within the Milky Way in the constellation of Sagittarius, just above the spout of the Teapot asterism, you'll find the Lagoon Nebula (M8). It's a great object to look at with binoculars and even better in a small telescope.
About 7° to the East of the Lagoon Nebula lies the magnificent globular cluster of M22. You shouldn't have too much trouble picking it out using binoculars, but for a real WOW, try observing it with a large telescope to see it sitting against the glittering starfields of the Galaxy.
There are several other striking summer nebulae in this region of the sky. The Eagle Nebula (M16) and M17 are excellent targets for 6 to 8-inch reflectors; located in Serpens and Sagittarius respectively. Not far away in Scutum lies the Wild Duck Cluster, M11.
In this table, the observation month represents the month in which the object reaches its highest point in the sky. It can also be viewed a few months before and after depending on your location. Direction is the compass direction in which the object is located, with Z meaning Zenith or overhead.
| # | Image | Common Name | Constellation | Coords | Direction | Mag | Size (arcmin) | Type | Star Chart |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 NGC 5272 |  | Canes Venatici | 13h 42.2m RA 28° 23m Dec | W | 6.20 | 18 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M4 NGC 6121 | Crab Globular Cluster | Scorpius | 16h 23.6m RA -26° 32m Dec | S | 5.90 | 26 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M5 NGC 5904 |  | Rose Cluster | Serpens | 15h 18.6m RA 02° 05m Dec | SW | 6.65 | 23 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ |
| M6 NGC 6405 | The Butterfly Cluster | Scorpius | 17h 40.1m RA -32° 13m Dec | S | 4.20 | 25 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M7 NGC 6475 | The Ptolemy Cluster | Scorpius | 17h 53.9m RA -34° 49m Dec | S | 3.30 | 80 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M8 NGC 6523 | The Lagoon Nebula | Sagittarius | 18h 03.8m RA -24° 23m Dec | S | 6.00 | 90x40 | Emission Nebula | 🔍︎ | |
| M12 NGC 6218 | Gumball Globular | Ophiuchus | 16h 47.2m RA -01° 57m Dec | S | 7.68 | 16 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M17 NGC 6618 | Omega Nebula | Sagittarius | 18h 20.8m RA -16° 11m Dec | S | 6.00 | 11 | Emission nebula | 🔍︎ | |
| M18 NGC 6613 | Black Swan Cluster | Sagittarius | 18h 19.9m RA -17° 08m Dec | S | 7.50 | 9 | Open Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M19 NGC 6273 | Ophiuchus | 17h 02.6m RA -26° 16m Dec | S | 7.47 | 16 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
| M49 NGC 4472 | Virgo | 12h 29.8m RA 08° 00m Dec | S | 9.40 | 10.2x8.3 | Elliptical Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
| M62 NGC 6266 | Flickering Globular Cluster | Ophiuchus | 17h 01.2m RA -30° 07m Dec | S | 7.39 | 15 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M69 NGC 6637 | Sagittarius | 18h 34.4m RA -32° 21m Dec | S | 8.31 | 9.8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
| M70 NGC 6681 | Sagittarius | 18h 43.2m RA -32° 18m Dec | S | 9.06 | 8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
| M75 NGC 6864 | Sagittarius | 20h 06.1m RA -21° 55m Dec | S | 9.18 | 6.8 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
| M80 NGC 6093 | Scorpius | 16h 17.0m RA -22° 59m Dec | S | 7.87 | 10 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | ||
| M81 NGC 3031 |  | Bodems Galaxy | Ursa Major | 09h 55.6m RA 69° 04m Dec | Z | 6.94 | 26.9x14.1 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
| M82 NGC 3034 |  | Cigar Galaxy | Ursa Major | 09h 55.8m RA 69° 41m Dec | Z | 8.41 | 11.4x4.3 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
| M83 NGC 5236 | Southern Pinwheel Galaxy | Hydra | 13h 37.0m RA -29° 52m Dec | S | 7.54 | 12.9x11.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
| M94 NGC 4736 |  | Cat's Eye Galaxy | Canes Venatici | 12h 50.9m RA 41° 07m Dec | SW | 8.99 | 11.2x9.1 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
| M101 NGC 5457 |  | Pinwheel Galaxy | Ursa Major | 14h 03.3m RA 54° 21m Dec | Z | 7.86 | 28.8x26.9 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
| M104 NGC 4594 | Sombrero Galaxy | Virgo | 12h 40.0m RA -11° 37m Dec | S/SW | 8.98 | 8.7x3.5 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | |
| M106 NGC 4258 | Canes Venatici | 12h 19.0m RA 47° 18m Dec | SW | 9.10 | 18.6x7.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ | ||
| M107 NGC 6171 | The Crucifix Cluster | Ophiuchus | 16h 32.5m RA -13° 03m Dec | S | 8.85 | 13 | Globular Cluster | 🔍︎ | |
| M108 NGC 3556 |  | The Surfboard Galaxy | Ursa Major | 11h 11.5m RA 55° 40m Dec | Z | 10.70 | 8.7x2.2 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
| M109 NGC 3992 |  | Vacuum Cleaner Galaxy | Ursa Major | 11h 57.6m RA 53° 23m Dec | Z | 10.60 | 7.6x4.7 | Galaxy | 🔍︎ |
