This Week’s Night Sky

Each Monday, I curate the most captivating celestial highlights (for mid-northern latitudes) for the upcoming week. Be sure to check out my main feed for more exclusive articles on stargazing, astronomy, eclipses, and so much more!

The Night Sky This Week: June 12-18, 2023

Venus has been an illuminating presence in the western sky after sunset for a significant portion of 2023. Unfortunately, its days of prominence are numbered as it transitions into a crescent shape and ultimately vanishes into the sun’s glare by July. Before it fades away, Venus is taking an enchanting trip close to the Beehive cluster (M44), one of the most spectacular open clusters of stars in the spring sky for mid-northern latitudes. In the meantime, early risers can expect to witness a beautiful crescent moon this week, accompanied by the striking open cluster of stars known as the Pleiades.

However, stargazers are in for a real treat this week as the New Moon provides the perfect opportunity to see the stunning Milky Way in all its glory. The solstice, marking the longest day and shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere, is fast approaching, and it’s becoming more noticeable since we can now see the Pleiades cluster in the east just before sunrise. While calendars are helpful, the positions of stars have marked the passage of time and the start of seasons for thousands of years.

Tuesday, June 13: Venus and the Beehive Cluster

After Mars’s appearance in the M44, Venus now takes center stage. The “Evening Star” planet will make a close approach to the Beehive Cluster (M44) in the constellation Cancer. You can easily spot Venus with the naked eye, although a pair of binoculars will give you a better view of M44’s striking blue stars. Mars will be hovering just above the cluster.

Wednesday, June 14: A Waning Crescent Moon and Jupiter

If you’re up around 4 a.m., take a glance towards the east to spot the 15%-lit waning crescent moon situated just 2º from Jupiter, which is now a morning object and will stay that way until late summer.

Thursday, June 15: A Waning Crescent Moon and Uranus

Just after 4 a.m. in the east-northeast pre-dawn sky, you’ll find an 8% illuminated waning crescent moon located between Jupiter to its upper right and the Pleiades to its lower left. Furthermore, on the lower right, the planet Uranus will be visible, although you’ll probably need binoculars to spot it.

Friday, June 16: A Young Crescent Moon and The Pleiades

You can observe a just 3% illuminated crescent moon rising in the east-northeast below the sparkling blue stars of the Pleiades open cluster around 4:30 a.m. By then, it becomes clear that the solstice is almost upon us.

Saturday, June 17: Saturn Retrograde

Saturn will seemingly go backward in the sky across the constellation Pisces from today until November 4. This period of apparent retrograde motion is caused by Earth orbiting the Sun much faster than the outer planets, causing them to appear to slide backward for a brief period.

Sunday, June 18: New Moon

A new moon occurs when our satellite is approximately between us and the sun. The moon is entirely invisible during this time, which is a shame because it is actually present all day in the sun’s glare. A data sheet of the moon may only be visible during a solar eclipse, and even then, it is just a small blip on the sun’s disc.

Object of the Week: The Milky Way

Summer offers the best opportunity to witness the Milky Way in all its beauty, especially in the northern hemisphere. However, you’ll need a pitch-black sky, which you can achieve by escaping the urban landscape. The best time to stargaze is a week before or after the new moon, which falls on June 18 this month. However, be prepared to stay up late because it won’t get dark in earnest until at least midnight. For those living far from northern latitudes, the new moons in July, August, and September are ideal for witnessing the stunning summer Milky Way.

Time and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For more precise location-specific details, explore online planetariums such as Stellarium and Follow Google News

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