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June is when the nights are shortest in the Northern Hemisphere, but also when stargazing becomes easier. Camping, vacations, and more time spent outdoors naturally spark an interest in the night sky. If you can stay up late, the rewards this month are plentiful, with a beautiful crescent moon shining near the stars of Gemini and Leo, a large moon near the brightest star in Scorpio, and translucent clouds visible in the northeastern night sky.

After the summer solstice on June 20, the first full moon of the summer occurs on June 21 with a major rocket launch from the Kennedy Space Center scheduled for June 25. So space fans and stargazers have a lot to be excited about in June 2024:

1. Beautiful crescent moon

When: After sunset on Friday, June 7, until Monday, June 10

Where: above the west-southwest horizon

There are four nights each month when a magnificent crescent moon appears in the western sky at dusk, but most of us miss it. We don’t know if it’s there and/or if it’s cloudy. So here’s an advance warning that a crescent moon will shine near the stars of Gemini, then Leo, over one long weekend in June. Just look to the west and if you have binoculars, use them. You will see not only the spectacular crescent moon, but also the “Earthglow” that subtly illuminates the “dark side” of the moon.

2. A big star and a big moon

When: After dark on Wednesday, June 19

Where: East-Southeast

Antares, the brightest star in the constellation Scorpius, is the anchor star of the summer sky. A red supergiant with a mass 12 times that of the Sun, it is one of the largest stars in the night sky. You can see it in the east tonight after dark, near a large, bright, waxing moon.

3. Nostilucent clouds

Where: Northeast night sky

When: evening twilight

Stargazers at latitudes between 50 and 70 degrees north of the equator may be able to observe nocturnal clouds this month. These “nightglow” clouds or “cosmic clouds” consist of icy dust and form about 50 miles up. They form mostly in June and July, as the sun never sets much below the horizon. They are best seen with the naked eye or binoculars during twilight.

4. Midsummer

When: Thursday, June 20

Where: sunrise and sunset

The solstice marks the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. This is when the north axis of the planet is at its maximum inclination towards the sun. The moment of the solstice is at 3:51 PM EDT, but to witness it you must try to watch the sun rise (at its farthest northeast of the year) and/or set (at its farthest northwest). Solstice comes from the Latin words salt and sistomeaning sun and stop because the sunrise and sunset points remain the same for several days.

5. The first full moon of summer

When: moonrise where you are on Friday, June 21

Where: East

Tonight we will see June’s full “Strawberry Moon” rising in the east during twilight. As the sun is highest in June in the Northern Hemisphere, the moon is lowest, with the “Strawberry Moon” being the lowest-hanging and latest-rising full moon of the year. Much like the sun in December. Occurring just a day after the solstice, the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere is also called the “Hot Moon” and the “Planting Moon.”

6. Big rocket launch

When: 5:16 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 25

Where: Kennedy Space Center, Florida (SpaceX YouTube channel)

If the schedule holds, today will see SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket — only its tenth excursion — launch NASA/NOAA’s GOES-U satellite into geostationary orbit. It will launch from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, with the launch window opening at 5:16 PM EDT.

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Take my books Stargazing in 2024, Stargazing program for beginners and When is the next eclipse?

Wishing you clear skies and wide-open eyes.