What to see in the night sky tonight, June 2023
What can you see in the night sky tonight? Find out what's on view in our monthly stargazing guide.
Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.
Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.
So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.
Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.
Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight. Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.
In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT
We also use RA (Right ascension) and dec. (declination). These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’. For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.
For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.
What's visible in the night sky tonight?
Saturday 27 May
The clair-obscur effect known as the Stars of Aristillus is visible this evening. It occurs when the central peaks within crater Aristillus catch the early light of the lunar dawn.
How to see it:
- Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Monday 29 May
Mercury reaches greatest western elongation, separated from the Sun by 24.9° in the morning sky.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
ALSO
The Jewelled Handle clair-obscur effect is visible on the Moon tonight.
Tuesday 30 May
Viewing Venus through a telescope reveals the planet approaching 50% illumination. Venus’s ‘phase anomaly’ means the phase you observe is different to the phase predicted for that date. When do you think Venus looks 50%-illuminated?
How to see it:
- Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Wednesday 31 May
As it approaches setting, Mars will be just to the west of the Beehive Cluster, M44. The planet is due to pass in front of the cluster in early June.
How to see it
- Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Thursday 1 June
June and July are the best months for spotting noctilucent clouds, and you can see them all month.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Friday 2 June
Compromised by twilight, mag. +1.6 Mars passes in front of the Beehive Cluster, M44, this evening.
How to see it
- Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Saturday 3 June
The mag. +1.0 red supergiant Antares (Alpha (α) Scorpii) appears one apparent lunar diameter south of the full Moon’s southern limb at 23:15 BST (22:15 UT).
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Sunday 4 June
Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation, appearing separated from the Sun by 45.4° in the evening sky.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Monday 5 June
A look at the northeast limb of the Moon this morning should show the parallel line clair-obscur effect known as the Zeno Steps, near crater Zeno.
How to see it:
- Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Tuesday 6 June
There’s a great opportunity this and tomorrow morning to spot the crater Gutenberg on the Moon. Also look out for it on the evening of 22 June.
How to see it:
- Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Thursday 8 June
As the Moon moves out of the way, this is a great time to get observing deep-sky objects.
How to see it:
- Large scope: Reflector/SCT over 6 inches, refractor over 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Tuesday 13 June
Venus is north of the Beehive Cluster, M44, this evening. The best chance to see the pairing is just before Venus sets.
How to see it
- Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Wednesday 14 June
A 15%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 0.6° to the north of Jupiter in the early hours. See whether you can observe the planet using binoculars after the Sun has risen.
How to see it
- Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Friday 16 June
Minor planet 20 Massalia reaches opposition at 10th magnitude in Ophiuchus.
How to see it:
- Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Saturday 17 June
The earliest sunrise of 2023 occurs today, when the Sun rises at 04:38 BST (03:38 UT) (time from the centre of the UK), just a few seconds earlier than on the surrounding days.
Sunday 18 June
Although there’s not much real darkness at this time of year, bright patterns such as the Summer Triangle asterism stand out very well.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Wednesday 21 June
Today at 15:58 BST (14:58 UT) is the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the point at which the Sun reaches its most northerly position in the sky.
Thursday 22 June
Today a 16%-lit waxing crescent Moon rises around 09:00 BST (08:00 UT), 4.2° from mag. –4.3 Venus. Mars is also 3.4° south of the crescent Moon.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Friday 23 June
Can you make out the shape of the Teapot asterism, low above the southern horizon around 01:40 BST (00:40 UT)?
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
Friday 30 June
Mag. –4.3 Venus is 3.6° from mag. +1.7 Mars, low on the west-northwest horizon shortly after sunset.
How to see it:
- Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
- Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
This guide originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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