Don’t Miss These Celestial Events in June 2025: Solstice, Strawberry Moon, Venus at Its Best & More
What's in the sky in June 2025? Literally everything! From shining Venus to sneaky daytime meteors, and cosmic meetups between the Moon and planets. The Earth has its big moment too, as we celebrate the June solstice. Don't miss a single moment! Grab the free astronomy app Sky Tonight to see what's happening above your head and get the exact timings for your location. Keep reading for the detailed stargazing guide.
Contents
- Astronomical events in June 2025
- Moon events in June 2025
- Planets in June 2025
- Constellations in June 2025
- June Solstice 2025
- Meteor showers in June 2025
- How can I learn what's in the sky above me?
- Astronomical events in June 2025: conclusion
Astronomical events in June 2025
Note that the event dates are provided in GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), so the dates may vary for different time zones. To learn when exactly the event is visible from your location, use the Sky Tonight app.
- June 1: Venus (mag -4.4) at greatest western elongation 🌟; Venus (mag -4.4) at dichotomy; Moon near Mars (mag 1.3)
- June 2: Moon near Regulus (mag 1.4)
- June 3: First Quarter Moon
- June 4: Venus (mag -4.4) near Eris (mag 18.7)
- June 6: Lunar occultation of Spica (mag 1.0)
- June 7: Daytime Arietids’ peak (ZHR = 30)
- June 8: Jupiter (mag -1.9) near Mercury (mag -1.2)
- June 10: Lunar occultation of Antares (mag 1.1)
- June 11: Full Moon 🌟
- June 17: Mars (mag 1.4) near Regulus (mag 1.4)
- June 18: Last Quarter Moon
- June 19: Moon near Neptune (mag 7.9), and Saturn (mag 1.1)
- June 21: June Solstice 🌟
- June 22: Mercury (mag -0.1) near Pollux (mag 1.2); Moon near Venus (mag -4.2)
- June 23: Moon near Uranus (mag 5.8); lunar occultation of the Pleiades (mag 1.2); Moon near Aldebaran (mag 0.9)
- June 24: Jupiter at solar conjunction
- June 25: New Moon; Moon near Jupiter (mag -1.9)
- June 26: Moon near Pollux (mag 1.2)
- June 27: Moon near Mercury (mag 0.0) and the Beehive Cluster (mag 3.1); June Bootids’ peak (ZHR = variable)
- June 28: Mercury (mag 0.1) at dichotomy
- June 29: Moon near Regulus (mag 1.4), Saturn (mag 1.0) near Neptune (mag 7.90 🌟
- June 30: Lunar occultation of Mars (mag 1.5) 🌟
*The highlighted events are the most interesting events of the month.
About magnitude: the faintest magnitude for stars and planets visible to the naked eye in cities with moderate light pollution is about 4. The limiting magnitude of an optical device depends on its specification but rarely exceeds 11.
Moon events in June 2025
Moon phases in June 2025
- First Quarter: June 3, 03:41 GMT
- Full Moon: June 11, 07:44 GMT
- Last Quarter: June 18, 19:19 GMT
- New Moon: June 25, 10:31 GMT
June 11: Strawberry Full Moon – The Sweetest Full Moon
This June Full Moon, which occurs on June 11, at 7:44 GMT, is particularly special. It's the lowest Full Moon in the Northern Hemisphere in 18.6 years, meaning it will be extremely close to the horizon. As a result, it will appear orange or golden and seem larger due to the Moon illusion. In the Southern Hemisphere, the situation is reversed. There, the June Full Moon will be the highest and easiest to observe, not obstructed by tall buildings or trees.
The June Full Moon is known as the Strawberry Moon because it coincided with the start of strawberry harvesting season for Native American tribes. In Europe, it has also been called the Rose Moon and the Honey Moon, linking it with the soft hues of summer evenings and the popular time for weddings. What a sweet celestial treat!
Read more: June Full Moon
June 25: New Moon – Best Time for Stargazing
On June 25, at 10:31 GMT, the New Moon will occur. Since the Moon won't be visible that night, the conditions will be ideal for stargazing with no lunar glare to interfere. It is the perfect time to observe deep-sky objects, and the Milky Way, or simply enjoy an unobstructed view of the cosmos.
Read more: Deep Sky Objects in June
June 29-30: Lunar Occultation of Mars – The Red Planet Disappears Behind the Moon
From 22:57 GMT on June 29 to 03:35 GMT on June 30, skywatchers will witness a striking celestial event: the Moon will pass directly in front of Mars, temporarily hiding the Red Planet from view. This rare phenomenon, known as a lunar occultation, will be visible from western Peru, Ecuador, western Colombia, and Clipperton Island. This event can be easily seen with the naked eye, but if you’ve got a telescope, it will reveal to you an incredible spectacle!
Don’t be too discouraged if you are not in the regions where the lunar occultation is seen! The conjunction and the close approach of Mars and the Moon will be visible worldwide. Get ready to observe Mars and uncover all the secrets of the Red Planet with this fun quiz.
Planets in June 2025
Planets visible in the Northern Hemisphere – June 2025
Mercury (Taurus, Gemini, Cancer): Visible in the northwestern evening sky after sunset. Mercury reaches its highest altitude in the evening sky in June. The planet’s brightness drops from magnitude -2.0 to magnitude 0.2 towards the end of June, but its visibility conditions will become better.
Venus (Pisces, Aries, Taurus): On June 1, Venus reaches maximum western elongation, marking the start of an excellent morning viewing season. Throughout the month, it shines brilliantly in the eastern morning sky, dimming slightly from magnitude -4.4 to magnitude -4.2 by the end of the month, but still clearly visible in the twilight.
Mars (Leo): Visible in the evening sky, low in the west, with a faint red glow. Mars dims slightly from magnitude 1.3 to 1.5 by the end of June. Although not particularly bright, it can still be spotted with the naked eye shortly after sunset.
Jupiter (Taurus, Gemini): Now nearing its conjunction with the Sun on June 24, Jupiter is difficult to observe this month. Although it maintains a steady naked-eye magnitude of -1.9, the planet stays very low in the western sky at dusk and is quickly lost in the Sun’s glare.
Saturn (Pisces): Rises in the eastern morning sky, just before dawn, but remains very low above the horizon and visible for less than an hour. Dims slightly from magnitude 1.1 to 1.0 by the month’s end.
Uranus (Taurus): Returns to the northeastern morning sky, best viewed by the end of the month. Although faint (magnitude 5.7) and requiring binoculars or a telescope, its visibility window gradually increases as June progresses.
Neptune (Pisces): Visible in the eastern morning twilight, at magnitude 7.9. It can be observed in mid-latitudes from dark-sky locations and with optical aid, but remains inaccessible in northern regions due to persistent twilight and polar daylight.
Planets visible in the Southern Hemisphere – June 2025
Mercury (Taurus, Gemini, Cancer): Visible in the northwestern evening sky, best seen during the middle and end of June. The planet remains visible for less than an hour after sunset, staying low near the horizon and requiring an unobstructed view to catch it. Mercury's brightness drops from magnitude -2.0 to magnitude 0.2 towards the end of June, but its visibility improves.
Venus (Pisces, Aries, Taurus): On June 1, Venus reaches maximum western elongation and continues to dazzle as the Morning Star. It appears high in the northeastern morning sky, rising well before dawn. Venus stands out in the twilight throughout June, dimming slightly from magnitude -4.4 to -4.2 by the end of the month.
Mars (Leo): Visible in the evening sky, but its visibility is gradually declining. Mars sets earlier each night, making it harder to spot without a clear western horizon, and dims slightly from magnitude 1.3 to 1.5 by the end of June.
Jupiter (Taurus, Gemini): Difficult to observe this month, even though it has a steady naked-eye magnitude of -1.9. Jupiter can be spotted in the northwest at dusk during early June, but quickly becomes lost in twilight as it approaches solar conjunction on June 24.
Saturn (Pisces): Its visibility improves as the month progresses. Early in June, it rises in the morning, but by mid-to-late June, it becomes visible in the dark hours too. Dims slightly from magnitude 1.1 to 1.0** by the month’s end.
Uranus (Taurus): Visible in the northeastern morning sky, staying low near the horizon. Although faint (magnitude 5.7) and requiring binoculars or a telescope, its visibility window gradually increases as June progresses.
Neptune (Pisces): Visible in the morning twilight at a magnitude of 7.9. It remains low in the eastern sky, best seen from dark-sky locations and with optical aid.
June 1: Venus at greatest western elongation
On June 1, Venus reaches its greatest western elongation, appearing about 46° away from the Sun in the morning sky. Rising well before sunrise, it shines brightly at magnitude -4.4, easily visible even in twilight. The greatest elongation is the best time to observe Venus. Look for it in the constellation Pisces, on the eastern horizon. Venus is easily visible to the naked eye, but if you have a telescope, you can observe its half-illuminated disk – a phase called "dichotomy."
Get to know the brightest planet in the sky! Test your knowledge with this quiz about Venus and see how many answers you can get right on the first try.
June 29: Saturn Near Neptune – The First of The Triple Conjunction
- Conjunction time: 08:20 GMT
- Conjunction distance: 0°59
On June 29, Saturn (mag 1.0) and Neptune (mag 7.9) will appear close together in the constellation Pisces, sharing the same right ascension in a pre-dawn sky. While Saturn can be seen with the naked eye, Neptune is much fainter and requires binoculars or a telescope to observe.
This meeting marks the first of three conjunctions between the two planets over the coming months. The triple conjunction is made possible by their upcoming retrograde motions — Neptune goes retrograde on July 5, followed by Saturn on July 14. These movements will bring them together again on August 6, 2025, and once more on February 16, 2026. Follow their celestial dance across the sky!
Read more: Planetary Conjunctions
Constellations in June 2025
In June, observers in the Northern Hemisphere can spot bright constellations like Scorpius and Ophiuchus rising in the southeast during the late evening. Libra, Virgo, and Leo also remain prominent in the southern sky after sunset. The constellations like Corvus, Crater, and Coma Berenices are best seen in the early evening. The jewel of the northern summer, Cygnus, is well-placed in the northeast as the night progresses.
In the Southern Hemisphere, Scorpius, Ophiuchus, and Sagittarius are well-placed and visible for much of the night. This makes June an ideal time to observe the Milky Way galaxy's center, located in the constellation Sagittarius. Capricornus begins to rise late in the evening on the eastern horizon, as Libra and Virgo descend toward the western horizon. The constellations Aquila, Bootes, Corona Borealis, and Hercules can be seen low in the northern/northeastern sky.
June Solstice 2025
On June 21, 02:42 GMT, the solstice will take place. On this day, the Earth’s Northern Hemisphere will be tilted closest to the Sun and experience the longest day and the shortest night. This is called the summer solstice and, in astronomical terms, marks the first day of summer.
The opposite will occur in the Southern Hemisphere, which will be tilted the farthest away from the Sun. There, people will get to experience the shortest day and longest night of the year — the winter solstice, which brings the first day of winter.
By the way, do you know the difference between solstices and equinoxes? Take our quiz and test your knowledge!
Meteor showers in June 2025
There is only one notable meteor shower peak in June. It's the Daytime Arietids, the strongest daytime meteor shower of the year. It peaks on June 7, delivering up to 30 "shooting stars" per hour. Daytime Arietids’ meteors will be visible just before dawn, and seeing them is not the easiest task for an observer.
The June Bootid meteor shower also peaks this month, but its maximum meteor rate is unpredictable. Typically it produces only 1-2 meteors per hour, which is not much different from the sporadic meteor rate observed at other times.
While you're waiting for a truly exciting meteor shower (the Perseids peak on August 12), take a look at some tips on how to get the most out of meteor viewing.
How can I learn what's in the sky above me?
The easiest way to learn what’s visible above you is to use a stargazing app that shows the sky from your exact location. While star charts and astronomy books are great, they can’t match the convenience of simply pointing your phone at the sky and getting real-time guidance. That’s where the free Sky Tonight app comes in. It helps you instantly identify stars, planets, constellations, and even satellites — just by aiming your device at the sky. The app is intuitive enough for beginners and rich in features for experienced skywatchers. Explore a detailed event calendar, check a stargazing index for your exact location, and try pro tools like a built-in photo editor and analemma plotting. Sky Tonight turns curiosity into discovery — no telescope required.
Read more: Meet Sky Tonight
Astronomical events in June 2025: conclusion
June 2025 is full of exciting celestial events. These include brilliant Venus at its greatest elongation on June 1, daytime meteors on June 7, the “most extreme” Full Moon on June 11, and the lunar occultation of Mars on June 30. The June solstice on June 21 marks a seasonal shift: summer begins in the Northern Hemisphere and winter begins in the Southern Hemisphere.
To follow these events and more, the free Sky Tonight app is the perfect tool. It helps you track celestial events in real time, explore the night sky from your exact location, and plan your stargazing sessions with custom alerts, a detailed sky calendar, and a stargazing index. So grab your stargazing tool, head outside, and explore the beauty of the June sky!
