2019-06-01+Sky+and+Telescope

OBSERVING

June 2019

pNoctilucent clouds are most often seen at

twilight during summer months at latitudes

between 50°° and 70° (in both hemispheres).

They lie very high up, at around 80 km, and

are composed of water-ice crystals.

P.-M. HEDÉN

DAWN: Look toward the east-
northeast before sunrise to see
Venus. Can you spot the slim sliver
of the waning lunar crescent som e 6°
right of the planet?

DUSK: As twilight deepens, the
Moon, one day past new, sets in the
west-northwest with Mercury 6° to
its right. Find Mars upper left of the
Moon, deep in Gemini.

DUSK: A thicker waxing lunar
crescent, Mars, and tiny Mercury are
all in Gemini and form a line 17° long
before sunset.

EVENING: The Moon is now in
Cancer. Wait for it to get dark enough
to spot the Beehive Cluster (M44)
some 4° from the fattening crescent.

ALL NIGHT: Jupiter arrives at

opposition. Throughout the month,

the majestic planet will be somewhat

bigger and brighter than it has been in

the past fi ve years.

NIGHT: The waxing gibbous

Moon, Jupiter, and Antares form a

triangle in the southeast shortly after

sunset. The following evening, the

almost-full Moon has moved to the

other side of Jupiter, and the trio is

now arranged in a shallow arc some

14 ° from tip to tip. You can follow them

as they wheel across the sky and set

in the southwest at dawn.

DUSK: Look toward the west-

northwest after sunset and tease

Mercury and Mars out of the gloaming

— they’ll be a mere ½° apart. The two

planets are less than 2° from each

other for a couple of evenings prior

and several evenings after.

EVENING: After Mercury and

Mars have set, turn to the southeast

to see the Moon, one day past full,

and Saturn rise in tandem 1° apart.

THE SHORTEST NIGHT OF THE

YEAR in the Northern Hemisphere.

Summer begins at the solstice, 15:54

UT (11:54 a.m. EDT).

DAWN: Taurus rises in the east

shortly before sunrise, cradling the

Moon in the Hyades, directly below

the Pleiades. See if you can spot

Aldebaran some 3° from the waxing

lunar crescent.

— DIANA HANNIKAINEN

skyandtelescope.com • JUNE 2019 41

1

4

5

6

10 18

21

30

15 –16

17–18