he moon is nearly full June 1, with Saturn less than two degrees south. Full phase is a day later. June 11, Uranus is a half a degree away, which is an occultation of the greenish planet to South Pacific viewers. June 15, two significant events occur — Mercury is almost occulted, a true occultation for southern India and environs. The bright star Aldebaran is one degree south of the moon, an occultation in northeastern Canada over toward Russia. June 20 sees Venus in the western evening sky just six degrees north of the moon and Jupiter that evening is only five degrees away. By June 29, Saturn again nudges up close, to within two degrees.
Mercury is a great morning object from June 9 onward, although best for southern observers. Watch for the near occultation mentioned above June 15.
Venus has been shining like a spotlight all spring and reaches greatest eastern elongation June 6. Jupiter has been apparently moving westward for months, closing in on Venus on the last day of June. The two objects appear to be the same size, even though Jupiter is enormous compared to Venus, attesting to the giant planet’s extreme distance.
Mars is not visible as it is behind the sun. Conjunction is June 14.
Jupiter graces the southern evening sky, perfectly placed to observe the four Galilean moons, Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. These moons were first viewed through a telescope over 400 years ago in 1610 by Galileo Galilei, using his self-designed instrument to gaze upon what appeared to be a solar system in miniature. He knew then not everything in the “heavens” was perfect and immovable, and he deduced the planets orbited the sun in the same manner. His embracing of the Copernican Theory, with the sun at the centre of the Solar System, got him into hot water with church leaders, but the theory was eventually universally accepted. See Venus above, where the speedier Venus catches up to and passes Jupiter.
Saturn is visible all night, rising about sunset and setting at dawn. Watch for two close encounters with the moon June 1 and again June 29 (one lunar month apart, of course).
Uranus rises very early in the eastern morning sky at 3 a.m. as the month begins and even earlier as time passes. Watch for a near occultation by the moon June 11.
Neptune rises and sets about an hour ahead of Uranus. Viewers need a telescope to see the very distant gas planet.
The Summer Solstice is June 21.
— James Edgar has had an interest in the night sky all his life. He joined the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada in 2000 and is now the society’s president, assistant editor and a contributor to the Observer’s Handbook, production manager of the bi-monthly RASC Journal. He was given the RASC Service Award at the 2012 General Assembly in Edmonton.
