June 2024 is about to be a rare month for stargazing and astronomy fans. Key occasions embody the Lagoon Nebula reaching its highest level within the sky, oppositions of asteroids 43 Ariadne and 42 Isis, and the peaks of the Daytime Arietid and June Bootid meteor showers. Moreover, comets 154P/Brewington and 13P/Olbers will attain perihelion, providing prime viewing alternatives. This information highlights these important celestial occurrences, making certain you gained’t miss a second of the night time sky’s wonders.
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Record of Meteor Showers in June 2024
- Antihelion Supply: Begin on December 10; a number of peaks; finish September 10.
- τ-Herculids: Begin on Might 25; peak on Might 31; finish on June 4.
- Daytime Arietids: Begin on Might 14; peak on June 7; finish on June 24.
- June Bootids: Begin on June 22; peak on June 27; finish on July 2.
We even have an entire checklist of meteor showers for the whole yr of 2024 right here.
Record of Planetary Conjunctions in June 2024
- Conjunction of the Moon and Mars in Pisces on June 2.
- Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury in Taurus on June 4.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter in Taurus on June 5.
- Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn in Aquarius on June 27.
June 1: Shut method of the Moon and Neptune
The Moon and Neptune will make a detailed method (appulse) passing inside just one.1 arcminutes of one another.
In some components of the world this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Neptune, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Neptune thereby hiding it from view briefly. In the event you’re within the southern tip of the African continent, you’re in luck! This consists of the entire nations of South Africa, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia, Madagascar, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Swaziland, Lesotho, Comoros, Mayotte, Seychelles, in addition to giant components of Angola and Tanzania.
Each objects can be within the constellation of Pisces with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -11.5; and Neptune at 7.9. The Moon can be a 24 days outdated waning crescent at 28%.
June 1: Messier 13 at its highest level within the sky
Messier 13 (also referred to as M13, NGC 6205, or the Nice Globular Cluster in Hercules) is a globular star cluster positioned within the constellation of Hercules. It was found by English astronomer Edmond Halley in 1714 and later included in Charles Messier’s catalog.
At obvious magnitude 5.8, M13 might be seen with binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon can be a 24 days outdated waning crescent at 20%.
June 2: Conjunction of the Moon and Mars
The Moon and Mars can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 2°24′ of one another.
Across the similar time, the 2 our bodies may even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 2°09′ from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
Search for the 2 our bodies within the constellation of Pisces. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Neptune.) The Moon can be a really skinny waning crescent (11%) at 26 days outdated, very near new moon – and won’t intervene a lot with stargazing this primary half of June 2024. Regardless of this, the Moon will nonetheless be at obvious magnitude of -10.7, whereas Mars can be at magnitude 1.0.
June 3: Asteroid 43 Ariadne at opposition
Asteroid 43 Ariadne will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky. It’s going to attain the very best level within the sky round midnight native time.
On this event, the asteroid Ariadne will cross inside 0.85 AU of Earth and attain a peak brightness of obvious magnitude 9.1. Sadly even on the peak, this asteroid can be too faint to watch with the bare eye. You’ll need no less than a 4 inch telescope, which it’s best to level in direction of the constellation of Ophiuchus. The Moon can be a 26 days outdated waning crescent at 10%.
Ariadne is a big asteroid of the primary belt at imply diameter of 71.34 km. It is a pretty big and vivid main-belt asteroid. It orbits the Solar at a semi-major axis of two.203 AU. (Supply: NASA JPL Small-Body Database Lookup for 43 Ariadne.)
June 4: Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury
Jupiter and Mercury can be at conjunction by sharing the identical proper ascension and passing inside 7’04” of one another.
At across the similar time the 2 planets may even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 6.8 arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension.
The 2 planets will meet within the constellation of Taurus with an obvious magnitude of -2.0 for Jupiter and -1.1 for Mercury. The Moon can be a 27 days outdated waning crescent at 3%.
As Mercury is near the Solar within the sky, watch out when observing this conjunction to by no means level binoculars or a telescope immediately on the Solar. This may end up in critical eye accidents and even everlasting blindness.
June 5: Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter
The Moon and Jupiter will attain conjunction passing inside 4°40′ of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -7.9 and Jupiter at magnitude -2.0 each within the constellation of Taurus. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the Conjunction of Jupiter and Mercury.) The Moon can be a 28 days outdated waning crescent at lower than 1%, solely a day away from new moon.
Mercury may even be close by, nonetheless lingering after its earlier day’s conjunction with Jupiter.
June 7: Daytime Arietid meteor bathe peak
The Daytime Arietids are a medium-sized meteor bathe with a median of fifty meteors per hour (ZHR) through the peak if circumstances are splendid.
Some meteors can also be noticed between Might 14 and Jun 24, enriching your stargazing this late spring of 2024. They may radiate from the constellation of Aries on the pace of 38 km/s on common.
June 11: Comet 154P/Brewington at perihelion
The comet 154P/Brewington will attain perihelion, which means it can attain the closest level in its orbit to the Solar at a distance of 1.55 AU. It’s going to have an obvious magnitude of 11.3, so a big telescope could be required to watch this comet. Look within the constellation of Aries. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the Daytime Arietid meteor bathe peak.) The Moon can be 5 days outdated waxing crescent at 28%.
June 16: Butterfly cluster at its highest level within the sky
The Butterfly cluster (also referred to as Messier 6, M6, and NGC 6405) is an open star cluster positioned within the constellation of Scorpius. It was named this fashion due to a imprecise resemblance to a butterfly.
At obvious magnitude 4.2, M6 may be very tough to make out with the bare eye until the circumstances are close to excellent. Nevertheless it’s simply seen with binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon can be 10 days outdated waxing gibbous at 78%.
June 20: June solstice
The June solstice will happen at 20:49 UTC. Will probably be the longest day and starting of summer season within the northern hemisphere and the shortest day and starting of winter within the southern hemisphere.
June 20: Ptolemy cluster at its highest level within the sky
The Ptolemy cluster (also referred to as Messier 7, M7, or NGC 6475) is an open star cluster positioned within the constellation of Scorpius. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the Butterfly cluster at its highest level within the sky.) As this cluster is seen to the bare eye, it was recognized since antiquity and was first recorded by Greek-Roman astronomer Ptolemy in 130 AD.
At obvious magnitude 3.3, M7 is seen to the bare eye, however with splendid circumstances. Use binoculars or a small telescope for higher viewing. The Moon can be a 14 days outdated waxing gibbous at 99%, solely 2 days away from a full moon.
June 22: Lagoon Nebula at its highest level within the sky
The Lagoon Nebula (also referred to as Messier 8, M8, or NGC 6523) within the constellation of Sagittarius is a big interstellar cloud categorised as an emission nebula and consists of an H II area. (See featured picture on the prime of the article.)
At obvious magnitude 5.8, the Lagoon Nebula is definitely seen with binoculars or a small telescope. The Moon can be 16 days outdated at full moon.
June 27: June Bootid meteor bathe peak
The June Bootids will peak this June 2024 with a variable zenithal hourly price if stargazing circumstances are optimum.
Some meteors can also be noticed between June 22 and July 2. They may radiate from the constellation of Boötes on the low pace of 18 km/s on common. The meteors from this bathe originate from comet 7P/Pons-Winnecke.
June 27: Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn
The Moon and Saturn will attain conjunction passing inside 4’38” of one another whereas sharing the identical proper ascension.
At across the similar time the 2 our bodies may even make a detailed method (appulse) reaching 4’38” arcminutes from one another, however not sharing the identical proper ascension. In some components of the world this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Saturn, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Saturn thereby hiding it from view briefly. In the event you’re in japanese Australia, north-eastern New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia amongst others, you’re in luck!
The Moon can be at obvious magnitude -12.2 and Saturn at magnitude 0.8 each within the constellation of Aquarius. The Moon can be 21 days outdated waning gibbous at 59%.
June 28: Asteroid 42 Isis at opposition
Asteroid 42 Isis will attain opposition, when it lies reverse to the Solar within the sky. It’s going to attain the very best level within the sky round midnight native time.
On this event, the asteroid 42 Isis will cross inside 0.99 AU of Earth and attain a peak brightness of obvious magnitude 9.4. Sadly even on the peak, this asteroid can be too faint to watch with the bare eye. You’ll need no less than a 4 inch telescope, which it’s best to level in direction of the constellation of Sagittarius. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the Lagoon Nebula at its highest level within the sky.) The Moon can be 21 days outdated waning gibbous at 53% so might intervene with observations considerably.
42 Isis is a big asteroid of the primary belt at imply diameter of 110.997 km. It orbits the Solar at a semi-major axis of two.443 AU. (Supply: NASA JPL Small-Body Database Lookup for 42 Isis.)
June 28: Shut method of the Moon and Neptune
The Moon and Neptune will make a detailed method (appulse) passing inside solely 15.6 arcminutes of one another.
In some components of the world this distance can be so shut as to result in a lunar occultation of Neptune, which means the Moon will cross in entrance of Neptune thereby hiding it from view briefly. In the event you’re in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Venezuela amongst others, you’re in luck!
Each objects can be within the constellation of Pisces with the Moon being at obvious magnitude -12.1; and Neptune at 7.9. (Constellation map already displayed above, when discussing the conjunction of the Moon and Neptune.) The Moon can be a 22 days outdated waning gibbous at 50%.
June 30: Comet 13P/Olbers at perihelion
The comet 13P/Olbers will attain perihelion, which means it can attain the closest level in its orbit to the Solar at a distance of 1.18 AU. It’s going to have an obvious magnitude of 5.0 based on the BAA Comet Section, so binoculars or a small telescope could be required to watch this periodic comet with an orbital interval of 69 years. Look within the constellation of Lynx. The Moon can be 24 days outdated waning crescent at 27%.
Moon Phases in June 2024
As you realize, the Moon has a big effect on the visibility of celestial our bodies and astronomical occasions within the night time sky. So that will help you with stargazing, right here’s a calendar of the phases of Moon for this month of June 2024:
Positions of the Planets in June 2024
Mercury: The closest planet to the Solar might be seen at daybreak and nightfall travelling throughout the constellation of Taurus. This planet, being the closest to the Solar, will seem to maneuver shortly within the night time sky and its place will change within the following weeks.
Venus: The sister planet might be seen travelling throughout the constellation of Taurus. Identical to Mercury, Venus can solely be seen at daybreak and nightfall.
Mars: The crimson planet might be seen within the constellation of Pisces.
Jupiter: The gasoline large is seen within the constellation of Taurus. Jupiter can simply be noticed with the bare eye, even in extremely illuminated cities.
Saturn: The ringed large might be seen with the bare eye within the constellation of Aquarius.
Uranus: The ice large might be seen within the constellation of Taurus with using a telescope.
Neptune: The blue large requires a telescope pointed within the constellation of Pisces with a purpose to be seen.
Positions of Dwarf Planets and Giant Asteroids in June 2024
Ceres: The asteroid belt’s lone dwarf planet might be seen within the constellation of Sagittarius with the assistance of a telescope.
Vesta: This massive asteroid might be seen within the constellation of Gemini with a telescope.
Pallas: The asteroid might be noticed with a telescope within the constellation of Corona Borealis.
Pluto: This distant dwarf planet might be discovered within the constellation of Capricornus with the assistance of a giant telescope.
Main astronomical occasions subsequent month – July 2024
- July 6: Ceres at opposition.
- July 10: July Pegasid meteor bathe peak.
- July 23: Pluto at opposition.
- July 28: Piscis Austrinid meteor bathe peak.
- July 30: Southern δ-Aquariid meteor bathe peak.
- July 30: α-Capricornid meteor bathe peak.
Conclusion
Stargazing in June 2024 provides a exceptional array of astronomical occasions. From nebulae and asteroids to meteor showers and comets, this month is crammed with alternatives for fans to watch the night time sky’s wonders. Benefit from these occasions to deepen your appreciation of astronomy and benefit from the celestial present.
So, mark your calendars and don’t overlook to subscribe to our publication beneath to obtain our stargazing calendar in your mailbox. Completely satisfied stargazing!
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