Washington, June 5 (SANA) Skywatchers will have the opportunity to observe several notable celestial events throughout June, including a rare lunar occultation of Venus, planetary conjunctions, and the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere, according to NASA.
Early in the month, observers can look toward the western sky shortly after sunset to view Venus and Jupiter appearing in close proximity. The two planets, among the brightest objects in the night sky, will reach their closest apparent approach around June 9 in a phenomenon known as a planetary conjunction.
Between June 11 and June 15, Mercury will join Venus and Jupiter in the western sky, forming a rare grouping of three planets visible after sunset. These alignments occur because the planets orbit the Sun along a similar plane known as the ecliptic.
Venus will remain the brightest and most visible of the three, while Mercury will appear lower near the horizon and may be more difficult to observe.
On June 17, a lunar occultation of Venus will occur in parts of the world, during which the Moon will pass directly in front of Venus, temporarily hiding it from view before it reappears. The event will be visible from regions including the United States, Canada, Brazil and Venezuela.
Later in the month, the Northern Hemisphere will mark the summer solstice on June 21, signaling the official start of astronomical summer and the longest day of the year.
June will also offer opportunities to observe deep-sky objects such as the Ring Nebula, Veil Nebula and Dumbbell Nebula, as well as the Summer Triangle formed by the stars Vega, Altair and Deneb.
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