06/03/2026
Jupiter and Venus will come very close together on June 8 and 9, appearing as a bright beacon in the twilight sky.
Mid-month, the New Moon and dark skies provide a great opportunity for stargazing.
June 21 marks the Summer Solstice, the longest day and shortest night of the year.
On June 26–27, the Bootid Meteor Shower peaks. This unpredictable shower can produce anywhere from 1–2 meteors per hour to dozens or even more than 100 in rare years. The best viewing time is after sunset and before midnight. Meteors appear to originate near the constellation Boötes.
The month rounds out with the Full Strawberry Moon. Despite its name, the Moon does not change color. Native American tribes used June's Full Moon as a seasonal indicator that wild strawberries were ready to harvest.
This month's planet: Uranus! Best viewed with binoculars or a telescope, it is often visible in the early morning sky.
Size & Mass: Uranus is the third-largest planet in the solar system, about four times wider than Earth and 14.5 times more massive.
Composition: Uranus is an ice giant made mostly of water, ammonia, and methane ices, with an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium.
Notable Features: Uranus rotates on its side, creating extreme seasons that can last for decades.
Rotation & Orbit: One day on Uranus lasts about 17 hours, while one year lasts 84 Earth years.
Moons: Uranus has 29 known moons. Its largest is Titania, while Miranda is known for its dramatic cliffs and fractured surface.
Rings: Uranus has 13 faint rings made mostly of dark rock and dust.
Magnetic Field: Uranus has a strong, tilted magnetic field that creates a complex magnetosphere and auroras.
Role in the Solar System: Uranus was the first planet discovered with a telescope. Studies of its orbit helped lead to the discovery of Neptune.
