This week’s night sky

Every Monday, I pick the week’s astronomical highlights for North America (this applies to the northern mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere as well). Check the main feed Check out more articles on stargazing, astronomy, solar eclipses and more.

This week’s sky: June 10-16, 2024

Stargazers should make the most of this week. Next week the summer solstice coincides with a full moon, making true darkness hard to find north of the equator. Take a moment to watch the crescent moon after sunset and spot two new constellations. Here’s what the night sky will look like this week:

Monday, June 10: Waxing Crescent Moon

If you look west after sunset, you’ll see a 21% bright crescent Moon. Its dark edge shows “Earthshine” – sunlight reflecting off the Moon’s oceans and ice sheets. It’s strong enough to faintly illuminate the Moon’s edge.

Tuesday, June 11: Waxing Crescent Moon and Regulus

Each month, the Moon occasionally passes close to four bright stars. Tonight, it’s the turn of the 30% bright crescent Moon to visit Regulus, the brightest star in Leo. Look high in the western sky.

Friday, June 14: Waxing Crescent Moon

Tonight is a waxing quarter moon, which is the time when the moon appears only half bright from Earth’s perspective. It also marks the time when the moon starts to light up the night sky, making it harder to see the stars. Don’t plan any dark-sky stargazing trips this week or next — you won’t get any benefit out of it.

Saturday, June 15: NGC 6388

Globular clusters are dense clusters of thousands or millions of stars on the outskirts of the Milky Way galaxy that are thought to be relics from the early universe. According to In-The-Sky.org, the 10 billion year old globular cluster NGC 6388 will reach its highest point of the year in the constellation Scorpio at midnight tonight. You’ll need a small telescope to see it, but don’t expect to see what the Hubble Space Telescope captured in 2012.

June 16th (Sun): Moon and Spica

Tonight, the waxing crescent moon, at 76% brightness, lies about 1 degree from Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, about 250 light-years away. The Moon will approach Spica every month in 2024, but this will be its closest. From central Asia, the Moon will appear to occult (hide) Spica for a few hours.

This week’s naked eye target: Corona Borealis

Have you seen the “Crown of the North”? Corona Borealis is a constellation of seven bright stars that sits between Boötes and Hercules. In addition to its perfect location in June, there’s another reason to get familiar with this semicircular, crescent-shaped constellation: a “nova” explodes within it. Corona Borealis sits between the bright summer star Vega in the northeast and the orange star Arcturus above it.

Telescope Target of the Week: Ring Nebula

Recently and exquisitely photographed by the James Webb Space Telescope, this bright and colorful planetary nebula is the remains of a supernova star and is easier to see away from light pollution. In any case, you’ll need a 6-inch telescope. The nebula is located in the constellation Lyra, about 2,000 light-years from Earth.

The dates and times listed apply to mid-latitude locations, so please consult an online planetarium for the most accurate location-specific information. Stellarium and Sky Live. check Planet Rising/Planet Setting, Sunrise and sunset and Moonrise/Moonset The time where you are.

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May the clear skies and big eyes be with you.