|
|
A rare celestial event headlines this week's skywatching. On June 17, observers across much of North America could have the chance to see the moon pass directly in front of brilliant Venus in a remarkable daytime occultation. The week also brings a delicate crescent moon meeting Mercury, a beautiful pairing of Venus and the Beehive Cluster, and a close encounter with the moon and Regulus, the bright heart of Leo.
Elsewhere in this issue, we're exploring why stars shine in different colors and showcasing some of the best images captured during last week's spectacular Venus-Jupiter conjunction.
Here's what to watch for in the nights ahead.
Daisy Dobrijevic
Skywatching Editor
|
|
 |
| (Starry Night) |
Look low to the west-northwest horizon about 40 minutes after sunset to spot the delicate 4%-illuminated crescent moon paired with elusive Mercury. The two worlds will sit just a few degrees apart, creating a beautiful twilight scene. Binoculars will reveal earthshine glowing softly on the moon's darkened face, while bright Venus and Jupiter shine higher above.
|
|
 |
| (Starry Night) |
One of the rarest events of the month occurs when the moon passes directly in front of Venus in the afternoon sky. For much of North America, the dazzling planet will disappear behind the moon's unlit edge before re-emerging. Observers using binoculars or telescopes should take extreme care to avoid the nearby sun.
|
|
 |
| (Starry Night) |
The brilliant glow of Venus pairs beautifully with the Beehive Cluster (M44) in Cancer. Through binoculars, the bright planet and the cluster's sparkling blue-white stars share the same field of view, creating one of the prettiest sights of the week.
|
|
 |
| (Starry Night) |
The waxing crescent moon slides close to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. While some parts of the world will witness an occultation, most observers will enjoy a lovely pairing between the silvery moon and Regulus' icy blue-white glow. Look west after sunset for this naked-eye sight.
|
|
|
The moon spends the week growing from a razor-thin crescent into a more prominent evening companion following the new moon on June 14/15. Early in the week, earthshine will be especially noticeable, revealing the moon's night side as sunlight reflected from Earth softly illuminates the darkened lunar surface.
Want to explore more? Check out our ultimate guide to observing the moon for tips and tools to get the most out of each phase.
|
|
|
|
Night shining noctilucent clouds could brighten the sky before dawn and after sunset from tonight!
|
|
|
Discover why some stars shine blue, white, orange or red and what those colors tell us about the cosmos.
|
|
|
|
When is the next total solar eclipse? On Aug. 12, 2026, totality will come to Greenland, Iceland and Spain.
|
|
|
|
Venus and Jupiter passed close to one another, setting the stage for a captivating planetary photoshoot.
|
|
|
| Astronomy Kit and Accessories |
|
|
The last dark skies of spring are the perfect time to get to know a new smart telescope and go deep-sky stargazing.
|
|
|
The Celestron Origin Mark II smart telescope will have you capturing crisp images of deep-sky objects within minutes of taking it out of the box.
|
|
|
| Stay up-to-date on all things space science, news, and entertainment by subscribing to our newsletters. |
|
|
|
 | Follow Night Sky This Week |  |  |  |  |
|
|
|
When you purchase through links in our content, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Future US LLC © |
| Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036. |
|
|
|
