June Night Sky: Best Constellations of the Month
June is a great time to go stargazing! In this guide, you'll find a list of constellations that are visible in June, along with tips on how to spot them. We’ve included brightness ratings, mythology, and step-by-step instructions to help you find each constellation using familiar star patterns or bright stars. For even easier stargazing, use the free Star Walk 2 app to locate any constellation instantly.
Contents
List of June constellations
For this series of articles about the best constellations of the month, we divided the 88 officially recognized constellations into months based on when they are highest in the evening sky. However, this does not mean that a constellation that is best visible in one month will disappear from the sky the next month; it will just be a bit lower.
To see the constellations listed below, start your observations around 10 p.m. local time. Since it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere, you may need to wait a bit longer in some locations for the sky to get dark.
The exact position of each constellation will vary depending on your location and the time of night you’re observing. Most of these constellations are visible from both hemispheres — in the “Visible from” section, we’ve included the latitude ranges where each constellation can be seen.
The easiest way to locate any star or constellation is by using the free Star Walk 2 app. However, we also provide step-by-step instructions using prominent stars and patterns as starting points to help you find them manually.
Constellations are listed according to how prominently they appear in the sky — from the brightest to the faintest:
- ☆☆☆: a constellation is very bright and easy to see.
- ☆☆: a constellation is moderately bright and can be seen with some effort.
- ☆: you might need a pair of binoculars to see a constellation.
Boötes
- Brightness: ☆☆☆
- Visible from: 90°N to 50°S
- Brightest star: Arcturus (mag -0.05)
- Best deep-sky object: NGC 5466 (mag 9.1)
Mythology
According to Greek mythology, Boötes and Ursa Major are actually a mother and son, represented by Arcas and Callisto. Callisto, the daughter of King Lycaon of Arcadia, won the love of Zeus and gave birth to Arcas. She left her child with her father, the king, who raised Arcas as his own son.
Some time after, King Lycaon tried to prove that Zeus was not all-seeing. He served Arcas as a meal to Zeus. Zeus saw through the trick, struck Lycaon’s sons with lightning, and turned the king into a wolf. Then, he brought Arcas back to life.
Jealous of Zeus’s unfaithfulness, his wife, Hera, turned Callisto into a bear. Callisto wandered the forests alone for many years. When Arcas grew up and became a hunter, he met this bear. Not knowing that it was his mother, he started chasing her. Callisto hid in a holy temple, and Arcas did not dare follow her there.
To spare them both from tragedy, Zeus placed them in the night sky. Callisto became Ursa Major (or the Great Bear in Latin), and Arcas became Boötes (the Herdsman in Latin). They watch over each other from the stars forever.
How to find Boötes in the sky
In the Northern Hemisphere Boötes lies directly overhead on June evenings. Begin by locating the Big Dipper asterism in the constellation Ursa Major. Follow the arc of the Big Dipper's handle southward. This curve will lead you to Arcturus (mag -0.05), a bright orange star. Once you’ve found Arcturus, look just above it for a kite-shaped pattern of stars — that’s the constellation Boötes.
Another helpful landmark is Corona Borealis, a small arc of stars to the east of Boötes. It resembles a sideways letter “C” or a smiling mouth, as if the stars are smiling back at you. 😊
In the Southern Hemisphere, Ursa Major isn’t visible at this time of year from most locations, so instead, look toward the northern horizon for a bright orange star rather low in the sky — that’s Arcturus. The kite-shaped pattern below is the constellation Boötes.
Unfortunately, Corona Borealis won't smile at you from these latitudes. Here, it appears more like a sad face. 😢
Ursa Minor
- Brightness: ☆☆☆
- Visible from: 90°N to 10°S
- Brightest star: Polaris (mag 2.0)
- Best deep-sky object: Ursa Minor Dwarf (mag 11.9)
Mythology
In one Greek myth, Ursa Minor represents Ida, the nymph who helped take care of baby Zeus on the island of Crete. She did this alongside Adrasteia, who is represented by the larger constellation Ursa Major.
Interestingly, the other Greek myth associated with Ursa Minor is a slightly different version of the Boötes myth. There, Zeus turns Arcas into Ursa Minor (“lesser bear” in Latin) instead of Boötes. However, the Boötes version is more popular.
How to find Ursa Minor in the sky
In the Northern Hemisphere, Ursa Minor is circumpolar, meaning it’s up all night, every night, and never sets, but June is the best time for viewing this constellation. The most prominent star in the constellation is Polaris (mag 2.0), the North Star. Polaris stays almost fixed in the sky while the rest of the stars appear to rotate around it as Earth spins.
The stars of Ursa Minor form a small dipper-like shape, with Polaris marking the end of the handle. It looks like a miniature version of the Big Dipper, curving south from Polaris.
To find Ursa Minor, start by locating the Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major. Look at the bowl of the Big Dipper and find the two stars on its outer edge — Dubhe (mag 1.8) and Merak (mag 2.0). Draw an imaginary line through them and extend it downward (north) across the sky. The next bright star along that line is Polaris.
You can also use Cassiopeia, the W-shaped constellation, to find Polaris. Draw a line from the middle star of the "W" toward the southwest — the next bright star along that line is Polaris.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Ursa Minor is not visible from most locations. It can only be seen very low on the northern horizon in places near the equator, such as Jakarta, Indonesia (6°S) or Manaus, Brazil (3°S).
Lupus
- Brightness: ☆☆
- Visible from: 35°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Uridim (mag 2.3)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 5882 (mag 6.5), NGC 5986 (mag 8.0), Retina Nebula (mag 10.9)
Mythology
In Greek mythology, Lupus (Latin for “wolf”) is sometimes linked to King Lycaon of Arcadia, who we know from the myth of Boötes. According to the story, Lycaon served Zeus a meal made from the flesh of his own son, Arcas. Disgusted and enraged, Zeus turned Lycaon into a wolf and cast him into the sky, where he became the constellation Lupus.
How to find Lupus in the sky
In the Northern Hemisphere, you’ll need to be fairly far south — around the latitude of Florida or lower — to see the entire Lupus constellation. For example, from New York, only the top portion or “head” of Lupus rises just above the southern horizon on June evenings.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Lupus is much easier to spot. Around 10 p.m. in June, it rises almost directly overhead. However, its stars are fairly dim, so finding brighter neighboring constellations first would be helpful:
- Start with Scorpius and its bright red star Antares (mag 1.0), which also shines almost overhead in the sky.
- Then look for Centaurus. Draw an imaginary line southwest from Antares to spot Alpha Centauri (mag -0.3), the brightest star in that direction.
Between Scorpius and Centaurus is a relatively dark patch of sky — that’s where Lupus and Norma are located. Lupus is the one with the brighter stars, and it lies slightly farther north than Norma.
Libra
- Brightness: ☆☆
- Visible from: 65°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Zubeneschamali (mag 2.6)
- Best deep-sky object: NGC 5897 (mag 8.5)
Mythology
Libra, meaning “weighing scales” in Latin, is one of the 12 zodiac constellations — and the only one of them named after an object rather than an animal or mythological figure.
In Greek mythology, the scales are often linked to Themis, the goddess of divine law and order. A Titaness, Themis, was seen as a symbol of justice and balance. Another figure associated with Libra is Astraea, the daughter of Themis and Zeus. Astraea represented purity and justice, and during the Golden Age, she lived among humans. But as humanity became corrupt, she left Earth and rose to the heavens, becoming the constellation Virgo.
How to find Libra in the sky
Libra is a large constellation, but its stars are relatively faint, so to see it clearly, it’s best to go somewhere with minimal light pollution.
In the Northern Hemisphere on June evenings, Libra rises fairly high above the **southern horizon. To find it, start by locating Antares (mag 1.0), the bright red star in the constellation Scorpius, low in the southeastern sky. Then look slightly higher and to the west to spot Spica (mag 0.9), the brightest star in Virgo. The constellation Libra lies between these two bright stars.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Libra is nearly overhead in the evening sky in June. Look high above the northern horizon to spot Antares. Then, gaze westward and slightly lower to find Spica. Libra is located between these two.
Because Libra is one of the zodiac constellations, the Sun and Moon occasionally pass through it. In June 2025, the more than 90% illuminated Moon will be in Libra on June 7-8, making those nights a great opportunity to locate the constellation with the Moon being a guide.
Circinus
- Brightness: ☆
- Visible from: 20°N to 90°S
- Brightest star: Xami (mag 3.2)
- Best deep-sky objects: NGC 5823 (mag 7.9), Pismis 20 (mag 7.8)
Mythology
The constellation Circinus has no known myths associated with it. It was first defined in 1756 by the French astronomer Nicolas-Louis de Lacaille. Its name comes from Latin and means "compass", referring to the drafting tool used for drawing circles — not to be confused with Pyxis, a separate constellation representing a mariner’s compass used for navigation.
How to find Circinus in the sky
Circinus is a small and faint constellation, with its brightest star reaching only magnitude 3. Despite its dim stars, it’s easy to locate thanks to its proximity to Alpha Centauri, one of the brightest stars in the night sky (mag -0.3).
In the Northern Hemisphere, Circinus is visible only from latitudes south of 20°N — places like India, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Look low above the southern horizon on a clear night. First, find Alpha Centauri, then, just to the east of it, look for three faint stars forming a shape like a pair of tweezers — that’s Circinus.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Circinus is much easier to see. Look high above the southern horizon to find Alpha Centauri, then look eastward to spot the elongated triangle of stars that make up Circinus.
Constellations visible in June: bottom line
June nights offer plenty of constellations to enjoy — from bright and easy to spot like Boötes to dim and challenging ones like Circinus. With this guide, you'll know where to look, how to find each constellation, and what makes them special. Whether you're using Star Walk 2 or finding them on your own, the night sky is full of stories waiting to be discovered.
If you’d like to challenge yourself and spot more bright stars using just your knowledge of the night sky, check out this infographic on 15 stars everyone can find.
