The June night sky will be highlighted by what may likely be the most stunning full moon of 2022, with the possibility of a new meteor shower and an unusual lineup of as many as six distinct planets.
Although this month is not jam-packed with celestial activities for stargazers, the three big events we've highlighted below are sights that you should not miss.
A man stands in front of his telescope as he attends with other people for the partial lunar eclipse over Vienna, on July 16, 2019.
Arietids Meteor Shower: June 7
Treehugger said the Arietids are one of the most fabulous meteor showers of the year, with a peak display of more than 60 shooting stars per hour. The only issue is that they're practically tough to spot. The Arietids are one of only a few meteor showers that peak during daylight hours, unlike the Leonids or Perseids.
Despite the sun concealing much of the Arietids' brilliant show, the mornings of June 7 and 8 offer an opportunity to see some before sunrise. If seeing shooting stars early in the morning isn't your thing, try hearing them instead. The Arietids are also known as a "radio shower" because their high speed (up to 75,000 mph) causes whiny radar echoes as they pass through Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, you may use a ham radio to listen to them burn up.
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Full Moon: June 13-14
The first in a series of supermoons, the first full moon of its sort in over a year, will rise in the middle of the month, Accuweather reported.
A supermoon is a full moon that seems somewhat larger and brighter than usual. However, the difference between a supermoon and a regular full moon might be subtle without a side-by-side comparison. On June 24, 2021, the final supermoon to light up the night sky ascended.
The Strawberry Moon is the name given to the full moon in June, prompting others to refer to the next occasion as a Super Strawberry Moon.
The first of three supermoons this year will rise on the night of Monday, June 13, into the morning of Tuesday, June 14. The second supermoon will appear on Wednesday, July 13, and the last supermoon will appear on Thursday, Aug. 11.
Planetary Alignment: June 24
A unique planetary alignment for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn might be seen in the morning sky by dedicated skygazers and interested early risers.
According to a press statement from the American Astronomical Society obtained by The Independent, the last time the five planets aligned in this way was in 2004.
Look east around a half-hour before sunrise if you're interested. Bright Venus will be near the horizon in early June, especially on June 3-4, and tracing an elliptic arc to the Southeast will show red Mars close to Jupiter, with Saturn further South at the tail end of the arc.
Mercury will be visible in the early days of June. Still, it will be so low to the horizon that it will be difficult to see without a good view to the horizon.
It may also rise so late that it may seem dim against the rising Sun's brightness, necessitating binoculars, even though these five planets are generally referred to as "naked eye planets" since they can be seen without a telescope under perfect conditions.
Mercury will rise higher and brighter before sunrise as June unfolds. Jupiter and Mars will split as Saturn advance further down the arc.
The alignment will most likely be seen on June 24, when a crescent moon will appear between Venus and Mars, acting as a visual stand-in for Earth in this procession of the first five planets out from the Sun.
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