June 14, 2026
June 2026 Skywatching Highlights
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June 2026 Skywatching Highlights
NASA’s June skywatching highlights include several events happening June 14 and later, including Mercury joining Venus and Jupiter, the Moon passing near Venus, the start of astronomical summer, and summer deep-sky targets rising into view.
On June 14 and 15, Mercury joins Venus and Jupiter after sunset, creating a small parade of planets low in the western sky. Venus will be the brightest and easiest to spot, with Jupiter nearby. Mercury will be lower toward the horizon, so a clear view to the west will help.
On June 17, the Moon will pass in front of Venus from some locations. This is called a lunar occultation. In other places, skywatchers may still see a close pairing of the Moon and Venus. NASA notes that this may happen during the daytime for many viewers, so do not point binoculars, telescopes, or cameras near the Sun without proper solar safety equipment.
The June solstice happens on Sunday, June 21, at 1:24 a.m. Pacific Time, marking the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
As summer begins, the Summer Triangle rises into view. This pattern is formed by the bright stars Vega, Altair, and Deneb. Around this area, telescope users and astrophotographers can look for deep-sky objects such as the Dumbbell Nebula, Ring Nebula, North America Nebula, and Veil Nebula.
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