The first half of 2025 has been all about the planets. Who could forget the wonderful planet parade of January and February 2025?
Now, as their positions and brightness deteriorate, and the summer days get longer and the nights much brighter, the planets are much less a viable target.
Mars remains a decent evening object, and Venus is a beautiful sight for those of us who are able to see it before sunrise.
Mercury is a beautiful evening object, and our top pick of the planets this month. Find out more by reading our guide to observing Mercury in June 2025.
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Key dates for Mercury in June 2025
At the start of June 2025, Mercury is 3.5° from the Sun and sets shortly after sunset, but things will improve as the month goes on.
On 8 June, Mercury is 2° north of Jupiter, with the pair setting about one hour after sunset
On 15 June, Mercury sets 90 minutes after sunset and, through a telescope, will show a 5-arcsecond disc with a gibbous 74%-lit phase.
On 26 and 27 June, a thin waxing crescent Moon moves from the right to left of Mercury.
Here's a brief summary of what the other planets are doing in the night sky in June 2025.
Mercury
- Best time to see: 15 June, from 40 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 5° (low)
- Location: Gemini
- Direction: Northwest
- Features: Phase, surface features
- Recommended equipment: 100mm or larger
Venus
- Best time to see: 30 June, 50 minutes before sunrise
- Altitude: 11°
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: East
Morning planet Venus rises just before 03:30 BST (02:30 UT) on 1 June. Sunrise is just before 05:00 BST (04:00 UT), providing a 40-minute or so window to try to catch the mag. –4.2 planet. On 1 June, Venus reaches greatest western elongation, separated from the Sun by 45.9°.
Through a telescope on this date, Venus appears 23 arcseconds across and 50% lit. However, according to the phase anomaly, the observed 50% phase is supposed to be late by a few days for morning appearances.
On 22 June, a 15%-lit waning crescent Moon lies 5.9° north of Venus, a lovely sight given clear skies. By the end of the month, Venus rises nearly 2.5 hours before the Sun, shining at mag. –4.0 but shrinks in apparent diameter to 17 arcseconds, with a phase of 63%.
Mars
- Best time to see: 1 June, from 23:00 BST (22:00 UT)
- Altitude: 22°
- Location: Leo
- Direction: West
Mars is in the evening sky, a dimming planet tracking east through Leo throughout June. On 1 June, it shines at mag. +1.3 and is located 6° west of a 37%-lit waxing crescent Moon. Mars is now quite distant from Earth and its apparent diameter through the eyepiece of a telescope is just 5 arcseconds.
Between 15 and 18 June, Mars makes a relatively close pass of Regulus (Alpha (α) Leonis), separated from the star by 52 arcminutes on 16 June, and 45 arcminutes on 17 June. On 29 June at low altitude above the western horizon, a 22%-lit waxing crescent Moon appears 1.7° to the west of Mars at 23:30 BST (22:30 UT).
Jupiter
- Best time to see: 1 June, from 30 minutes after sunset
- Altitude: 4° (very low)
- Location: Taurus
- Direction: Northwest
Jupiter is a tricky planet to spot this month, reaching solar conjunction on 24 June. On 8 June, the planet sits 2° from Mercury in the post-sunset sky.
Saturn
- Best time to see: 30 June, 02:40 BST (01:40 UT)
- Altitude: 15°
- Location: Pisces
- Direction: East-southeast
Saturn is poorly positioned in the morning sky at the start of the month, but does improve a little towards the end of June. Shining at mag. +0.8 on 1 June, Saturn brightens to +0.7 by the end of the month.
On 19 June at 02:50 BST (01:50 UT), at an altitude of 11°, a 46%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 2° north of Saturn, with mag. +7.9 Neptune between them.
Uranus
Not visible
Neptune
Not really a viable target this month, mag. +7.9 Neptune is located near Saturn.
Share your planetary adventures and images with us by emailing contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com
