Sky Report

June, 2026

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between June 1 and June 30, 2026. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

The sun rises on the 1^st at 5:43 a.m., and sets at 8:00 p.m.  On the 30^th, the sun rises at 5:45 a.m. and sets at 8:09 p.m.

Mercury on the 1^st, sets in the west-northwest at 9:35 p.m. The planet is 70-percent illuminated and 6.1 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, the sun sets at 8:09 p.m., and Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 9:02 p.m., 53 minutes later. The planet is 13-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide.

Venus sets in the west-northwest on the 1^st at 10:39 p.m., with a disk that is 80-percent illuminated and 13 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 10:39 p.m., with a disk that is 70-percent illuminated and 16 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Aries the Ram. On the 19^th the planet enters Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 4:03 a.m., and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m. The planet is 96-percent illuminated and 4.3 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 3:16 a.m., with a disk 95-percent illuminated and 4.4 arcseconds wide. A magnification of over 150x is needed to see the planet’s small disk.

Jupiter is in Gemini the Twins. On the 1^st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 11:01 p.m. On the 30^th, Jupiter sets at 9:28 p.m.  Jupiter is 33 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 2:52 a.m. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 1:04 a.m.  Saturn is 17 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x. Saturn is about one degree south of Neptune in June.

Note: Saturn is in Cetus the sea monster during June 1-3

Uranus is in Taurus the Bull. On the 1^st, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 5:12 a.m., 31 minutes before the sun rises. On the 30^th, Uranus rises at 3:24 a.m. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 4^h 3^m 22^s and declination of +20° 34ʹ 30ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.5-arcsecond disk.

Neptune is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Neptune rises in the east at 2:27 a.m., and on the 30^th, the planet rises at 12:34 a.m. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 17^m 52^s and declination of +0° 27ʹ 36ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

The moon is at last quarter on the 8^th, new moon on the 14^th, first quarter on the 21^st, and full moon on the 29^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere, at 1:24 a.m. on June 21. At this precise moment, the sun reaches its northernmost point on the ecliptic.  This point and the time the sun meets it are called the summer solstice. Summer ends with the autumnal equinox on September 22.

Jovian Satellite Events

Io starts crossing Jupiter’s disk on the 15^th at 7:49 p.m.  Io’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk at 8:30 p.m.

Europa crosses Jupiter’s disk on the 16^th at 6:36 p.m.  Europa’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk at 7:36 p.m.

Ganymede crosses Jupiter’s disk on the 27^th at 4:51 p.m.  Ganymede’s shadow starts crossing Jupiter’s disk starting at 6:54 p.m.

Venus Events

Venus is one and a half degrees north of Jupiter on the evening of the 8^th.

Venus is half a degree north of the center of the open star cluster M44 on the evening of the 19^th.

Venus is occulted by the moon on the morning of the 17^th at 11:40 a.m.  Venus reappears from behind the moon at 12:44 p.m.

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The month of June begins with the Moon waning. The New Moon on the 14th ends this cycle. From the 15th onward, the Moon is waxing which means its surface is becoming more illuminated. The Moon is full again on June 29th. The Last Quarter is on the 8th, and the First Quarter is on the 21st.

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