Looking for a telescope for the next night sky event? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide.
The night sky tonight and on any clear night offers an ever-changing display of fascinating objects you can see, from stars and constellations to bright planets, the moon, and sometimes special events like meteor showers.
Observing the night sky can be done with no special equipment, although a sky map can be very useful, and a good telescope or binoculars will enhance some experiences and bring some otherwise invisible objects into view. You can also use astronomy accessories to make your observing easier, and use our Satellite Tracker page powered by N2YO.comto find out when and how to see the International Space Station and other satellites. We also have a helpful guide on how you can see and track a Starlink satellite train.
You can also capture the night sky by using any of the best cameras for astrophotography, along with a selection of the best lenses for astrophotography.
Read on to find out what's up in the night sky tonight (planets visible now, moon phases, observing highlights this month) plus other resources (skywatching terms, night sky observing tips and further reading)
Related: The brightest planets in June's night sky: How to see them (and when)
Monthly skywatching information is provided to Space.com by Chris Vaughan of Starry Night Education, the leader in space science curriculum solutions. Follow Starry Night on Twitter @StarryNightEdu and Chris at @Astrogeoguy
Editor's note: If you have an amazing skywatching photo and would like to share them with Space.com’s readers, send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space.com.
Calendar of observing highlights
Thursday, June 1: Mars invades the Beehive (evening)
For several evenings starting on Thursday, June 1, the easterly motion of the planet Mars will carry it directly through the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive, Praesepe, and Messier 44. Once the sky darkens, look for the medium-bright, reddish dot of Mars shining about one-third of the way up the western sky, and a fist's diameter to the upper left (or 10 degrees to the celestial east) of the extremely bright planet Venus.
Binoculars (orange circle) or a telescope at low magnification will show the "bees", which are sprinkled across an area larger than the full moon. On Thursday, Mars will sit near the lower right (northwestern) edge of the cluster, on Friday, it will shine amongst the cluster's stars, and on Saturday, it will be located just to the upper left (or celestial east). Try to photograph Mars' passage on all three nights!
Saturday, June 3: Full moon near Antares (all night)
When the nearly full moon clears rooftops towards the southeast in the late evening on Saturday, June 3, it will be shining several finger-widths to the lower left of Scorpius' brightest star, Antares. As the hours pass the moon's easterly orbital motion will carry it farther from reddish Antares and the diurnal motion of the sky will lift the moon higher than the star. The duo will be close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle) for most of the night.
Saturday, June 3: Venus at greatest eastern elongation (after sunset)
On Saturday, June 3 and the following evening, Venus will officially be at its maximum separation of 45 degrees east of the sun for its current lengthy apparition.
Viewed in a telescope (inset), the planet will exhibit a half-illuminated phase. To see Venus' shape most clearly, view the planet in twilight when its contrast with the surrounding sky is reduced. After today, our sister planet will continue to brighten and increase in apparent disk diameter as its orbit (grey curve) carries it sunward ahead of an inferior conjunction in August.
Sunday, June 4: Full Strawberry Moon (at 11:42 p.m. EDT)
The moon will officially reach its full phase at 03:42 GMT on Sunday, June 3, which converts to 11:42 p.m. EDT and 8:42 p.m. PDT on Saturday night. The June full moon, colloquially known as the Strawberry Moon, Mead Moon, Rose Moon, Birthing Moon, or Hot Moon, always shines in or near the stars of Sagittarius, the Archer.
The indigenous Ojibwe people of the Great Lakes region call this moon Ode'miin Giizis, the Strawberry Moon. For the Cree Nation it's Opiniyawiwipisim, the Egg Laying Moon (referring to the activities of wild water-fowl). The Mohawks call it Ohiarí:Ha, the Fruits are Small Moon. The Cherokee call it Tihaluhiyi, the Green Corn Moon, when crops are growing. The moon is only completely full when it is opposite the sun in the sky, so full moons always rise in the east as the sun is setting, and set in the west at sunrise. Since sunlight is hitting the moon face-on at that time, no shadows are cast — all of the variations in brightness you see arise from differences in the reflectivity, or albedo, of the lunar surface rocks.
Sunday, June 4: Mercury passes Uranus (pre-dawn)
On the mornings surrounding Sunday, June 4, the planet Mercury will pass close enough to Uranus to allow them to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). Unfortunately for observers along mid-northern latitudes, the pair will be hugging the horizon and swimming in the pre-dawn twilight. Mercury will rise there around 4:30 a.m. local time. The two planets will be easier to see if you live in the southern USA or farther south, where they'll shine in a dark sky for a while before dawn.
At closest approach on Sunday, 200 times fainter Uranus will be positioned several finger-widths to the upper left (or 2.8 degrees to the celestial north) of Mercury. Be sure to turn all optical aids away from the east before the sun rises.
Sunday, June 4: Two shadows cross Jupiter (05:09 to 06:46 GMT)
From time to time, observers with good-quality telescopes can watch the small, round, black shadow of one of the Galilean moons slowly glide across Jupiter's disk. On Sunday morning, June 4, sky-watchers in the western Africa region can see a rare treat when two shadows cross the southern hemisphere of Jupiter at the same time. At 5:12 a.m. GMT, the shadow of Europa will join the shadow of Io, which began its own crossing of the planet half an hour earlier. By the time Io's shadow leaves Jupiter at 6:48 a.m. GMT, the sky will be brightening.
Tuesday, June 6: The Big Dipper points to stars (evening)
In early June the Big Dipper asterism, part of the larger constellation of Ursa Major, sits high in the northwestern sky after dusk. When viewed while facing northwest, the dipper's bowl opens on the right, towards its Little Dipper counterpart, and its handle extends upward. A line extended from Merak through Dubhe, the stars which mark the bowl's outer base and rim, respectively, will arrive at medium-bright Polaris, the North Star. Continue the arc of the dipper's bent handle and "Arc to Arcturus", the very bright, orange star in Böotes. Continuing that arc farther to "Spike to Spica", the brightest star in Virgo. Extending the line from Phecda to Megrez, the dipper's upper two bowl stars, will "Drive to Deneb" in Cygnus. Extending that line in the opposite direction "Reaches for Regulus", the brightest star in Leo.
Thursday, June 8: See two shadows on Jupiter (at 4:30 to 5:45 a.m. AEST)
From time to time, observers with good-quality telescopes can watch the black shadows of the Galilean moons travel across Jupiter's disk. On Thursday morning, June 8, observers at longitudes near eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea can see two shadows cross the southern hemisphere of Jupiter simultaneously. At 4:30 a.m. Australian Eastern tandard Time (or 18:30 GMT on June 7), the shadow of Europa will join the shadow of Io, which began its own crossing of the planet 50 minutes earlier. Io's shadow will leave Jupiter at 5:45 a.m. AEST and Europa's shadow will complete its own trip about an hour later.
Friday, June 9: Morning moon poses with Saturn (Pre-dawn)
When the half-illuminated moon rises in the east during the wee hours of Friday morning, June 9, it will be shining a fist's diameter to the right (or 10 degrees to the celestial southwest) of yellowish Saturn's bright dot.
The pair will remain visible until the sky brightens ahead of sunrise — then Saturn will fade from view. On Saturday morning, the easterly orbital motion of the moon will have carried it to Saturn's lower left — now close enough for them to share the view in binoculars. Either morning will make a nice photo opportunity.
Saturday, June 10: Third Quarter Moon (at 3:31 p.m. ETD)
The moon will officially reach its third quarter phase at 3:31 p.m. EDT, 12:31 p.m. PDT, or 19:31 GMT on Saturday, June 10. At third (or last) quarter the moon appears half-illuminated, on its western, sunward side. The moon will rise after midnight local time, and then remain visible until it sets in the western daytime sky in the early afternoon. Third-quarter moons are positioned ahead of the Earth in our trip around the sun. About 3½ hours later, Earth will occupy that same location in space. The week of dark, moonless evening skies that follow this phase is the best for observing deep sky targets.
Sunday, June 11: Great Red Spot and double shadows on Jupiter (03:52 to 04:42 EDT)
An especially fine double shadow crossing event on Jupiter will occur on Sunday morning, June 11. Observers with good telescopes in eastern North America and all of South America can watch the shadows of Io and Europa cross the southern hemisphere of Jupiter along with the Great Red Spot! At 2:35 a.m. EDT or 06:35 GMT, the shadow of Io will begin its crossing. The Great Red Spot will start to rotate into view about half an hour later, followed by Europa's shadow at 3:52 a.m. EDT (or 07:52 GMT). In some locales, the sky will be brightening when Io's shadow leaves Jupiter at 4:42 a.m. EDT (or 08:42 GMT).
Tuesday, June 13: Venus brushes the Beehive (evening)
On the evenings surrounding Tuesday, June 13, the bright planet Venus will pass close to the northern edge of the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive or Messier 44. The cluster, which covers a patch of the sky two times wider than the full moon, is frequently visited by the moon and planets because it is located close to the ecliptic.
On Monday night, use binoculars (orange circle) to see the cluster's stars sprinkled to the left of Venus. On Tuesday, Venus will shine at their top (northern) edge. From Wednesday onwards, Venus will climb away from the cluster.
Wednesday, June 14: Pretty crescent moon joins Jupiter (hours before sunrise)
Check the forecast and set the alarm! On Wednesday morning, June 14, the slender, old crescent moon will rise above the eastern horizon, accompanied by the brilliant planet Jupiter.
When the pair clears the treetops around 3:30 a.m. local time, they'll make a spectacular sight — or a lovely photo when composed with some foreground scenery. The moon and Jupiter will be cozy enough to share the view in both binoculars (orange circle). A low-power telescope will show you Jupiter's row of four Galilean moons. You'll be able to see the moon and Jupiter until almost sunrise.
Thursday, June 15: A sliver of the moon near Uranus (before dawn)
The waning moon's trip past the morning planets will continue on Thursday, June 15 when it visits Uranus. The magnitude 5.84 planet will be visible in binoculars (orange circle) and telescopes just a finger's width to the lower right (or 1 degree to the celestial south) of the pretty, 8%-illuminated moon.
Try to catch sight of the planet before the sky brightens too much at the end of civil twilight, around 4 a.m. local time. Observers at southerly latitudes will see the pair shining higher in the sky and during a longer time window. The Pleiades cluster (Messier 45) will appear off to their left.
Friday, June 16: Old moon and Mercury below the Seven Sisters (before sunrise)
If you have clear skies and an unobstructed view to the east-northeastern horizon before sunrise on Friday morning, June 16, use your binoculars (orange circle) to view the brightest seven or so stars of the lovely Pleiades Star Cluster (also known as Messier 45) twinkling about a palm's width above the very slim crescent of the old moon.
The bright dot of Mercury will shine almost a palm's width below the moon. In a twilit sky, the Seven Sisters nickname for the Pleiades will be readily apparent. Count them! Observers at southerly latitudes will see the grouping more easily.
Sunday, June 18: New Moon (at 12:37 a.m. EDT)
On Sunday, June 18 at 12:37 a.m. EDT or 04:37 GMT, the moon will officially reach its new moon phase. At the new phase, our natural satellite will be located in Taurus, and about 3 degrees north of the sun.
While new, the moon is traveling between Earth and the sun. Since sunlight can only shine on the far side of the moon, and the moon is in the same region of the sky as the sun, it becomes completely hidden from view from anywhere on Earth for about a day. After the new moon phase, Earth's celestial night-light will return to shine as a crescent in the western evening sky.
Sunday, June 18: Saturn stands still (wee hours)
On Sunday, June 18, Saturn will cease its regular eastward motion through the distant stars of Aquarius and begin a retrograde loop (red curve with dates/times) that will last until early November. The apparent reversal in Saturn's motion is an effect of parallax produced when Earth, on a faster orbit, passes the Ringed Planet on the "inside track".
You can observe the planet's motion by noting how Saturn's distance from the nearby bright stars Hydor (Lambda Aquarii) and Deneb Algedi (Delta Capricornus) varies over the coming weeks.
Monday, June 19: Earthshine moon below Castor and Pollux (after sunset)
When the young crescent moon returns to visibility in the western sky after sunset this month, it will spend several days striking a pretty pose with some bright stars and planets. As the sky begins to darken on Monday evening, June 19 in the Americas, look a short distance above the west-northwestern horizon to see the very fine sliver of the waxing crescent moon perched below and between Gemini's brightest stars, Pollux (on the left) and Castor (on the right). The triangle they form will be tight enough to fit in the field of view of your binoculars (orange circle).
Watch for the Earthshine phenomenon. Visible within a day or two of a new moon, it occurs when sunlight reflected off Earth and back toward the moon slightly brightens the unlit portion of the moon's Earth-facing hemisphere.
Tuesday, June 20: Early evening photo opportunity (after sunset)
On Tuesday evening, June 20 the pretty crescent moon will shine in the lower part of the western sky after sunset, with the bright planets Venus and Mars shining to its upper left (celestial east) and Gemini's twin stars Pollux and Castor to its lower right.
Earthshine on the moon should again be apparent. The group will make a lovely photo when composed with some interesting foreground landscape. Consider capturing multiple photos as the sky darkens. The moon will drop below the rooftops around 10 p.m. local time.
Wednesday, June 21: Northern summer solstice (at 14:58 GMT)
On Wednesday, June 21 at 10:58 a.m. EDT or 7:58 a.m. PDT and 14:58 GMT, the sun will reach its northernmost declination for the year, delivering the maximum daylight hours of the year for the Northern Hemisphere and the minimum daylight hours of the year for the Southern Hemisphere. The June summer solstice marks the beginning of the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere, and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
Wednesday, June 21: Moon, Mars and Venus (early evening)
In the lower part of the western sky on Wednesday night, June 21, the gorgeous waxing crescent moon will form a triangle to the right (or celestial north) of extremely bright, white Venus and the much fainter, reddish planet Mars.
In the Americas, they'll be close enough to share the view in binoculars (orange circle). In more westerly time zones, the moon will appear even closer to the two planets. While Venus and the moon will be easy to spot after sunset, the sky will need to darken somewhat before the speck of Mars appears. The trio will set shortly after 11 p.m. local time. On Thursday night the moon will shine above the two planets.
Saturday, June 24: Lyra's double double star (all night)
The constellation of Lyra is positioned high in the eastern sky during the late evening in June. Keen eyes might reveal that the medium-bright star Epsilon Lyrae, which is located just a finger's width to the lower left (or one degree to the celestial east) of the very bright star Vega, is a close-together pair of stars — a double star. Binoculars (orange circle) or a backyard telescope certainly will the two stars.
Examining Epsilon at high magnification will reveal that each of those stars is itself a double — hence its nick-name, "the Double Double". Each duo is a true binary star system, with the companions orbiting one another once every 600 and 1200 years.
Monday, June 26: First Quarter Moon (at 3:50 a.m. EDT)
The moon will complete the first quarter of its orbit around Earth, measuring from the previous new moon, on Monday, June 26 at 3:50 a.m. EDT, 12:50 a.m. PDT, or 07:50 GMT. The 90-degree angle formed by the Earth, sun, and moon at that time will cause us to see our natural satellite half-illuminated — on its eastern side.
At first quarter, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight, allowing it to be seen in the afternoon daytime sky, too. The evenings surrounding the first quarter phase are the best ones for viewing the lunar terrain when it is dramatically lit by low-angled sunlight.
Tuesday, June 27: The Lunar Straight Wall (evening)
On Tuesday night, June 27, the pole-to-pole terminator that divides the lit and dark hemispheres of the waxing gibbous moon, will fall to the left (or lunar west) of Rupes Recta, also known as the Lunar Straight Wall. The rupes, Latin for "cliff", is a north-south aligned fault scarp that extends for 65 miles (110 km) across the southeastern part of Mare Nubium, which sits in the lower third of the moon's Earth-facing hemisphere.
The wall is visible in good binoculars and backyard telescopes. It is most prominent a day or two after first quarter, and also on the days before the third quarter phase. For reference, the prominent crater Tycho, with its central mountain peak, is located due south of the Straight Wall.
Wednesday, June 28: Crater Copernicus (evening)
The prominent crater Copernicus is located in eastern Oceanus Procellarum — due south of Mare Imbrium and slightly northwest of the moon's center. This 800 million-year-old impact scar is visible with unaided eyes and binoculars — but telescope views will reveal many more interesting aspects of lunar geology.
Starting several nights before the moon reaches its full phase, Copernicus exhibits heavily terraced edges (due to slumping), an extensive ejecta blanket outside the crater's rim, a complex central peak, and both smooth and rough terrain on the crater's floor. Around the full moon, Copernicus' ray system, extending 500 miles (800 km) in all directions, becomes prominent. Use high magnification to look around Copernicus for small craters with bright floors and black haloes — impacts through Copernicus' white ejecta that excavated dark Oceanus Procellarum basalt and even deeper highlands anorthosite.
Friday, June 30: Venus moves closest to Mars (evening)
Above the western horizon on Friday evening, June 30, the separation between the bright planet Venus and the dim, reddish planet Mars, which has been shining to its upper left for some time, will decrease to a minimum of 3.6 degrees, or several finger widths.
Over the coming weeks, you'll be able to see their separation increase as Venus shifts sunward. The pair of planets will continue to share the view in your binoculars (orange circle) until mid-July.
Planets
Mercury
For Northern Hemisphere observers, Mercury will spend most of June shining a few degrees above the east-northeastern horizon before sunrise. It will slide horizontally to the left each morning during the first three weeks of the month, and then it will disappear into the twilight as it drops sunward by month's end.
For observers in the tropics and farther south, the vertical morning ecliptic will allow Mercury to rise in a dark sky well before the sun — but it will still sink into the morning twilight in late June.
Mercury's eastward prograde motion will carry it from eastern Aries into Taurus on June 7 and then into Gemini on June 26. Mercury will brighten throughout June — from magnitude 0.2 on June 1 to -0.9 around the date we lose sight of it. Viewed in a telescope (but only before the sun rises, please), Mercury will exhibit a waxing phase that grows from 44.4% to fully illuminated at month-end. At the same time, its apparent disc size will shrink from 7.7 to 5 arc seconds.
Mercury will travel between magnitude 5.84 Uranus and the 8th magnitude minor planet Vesta on the mornings surrounding June 5. The trio will share the view in binoculars, but those much fainter objects will be difficult to see unless you are in the tropics. Likewise, tropical skywatchers can look for the 3%-illuminated waning crescent moon positioned 5 degrees to the northwest of Mercury on June 16.
Venus
Venus will continue to dominate the western evening sky during the month of June. The brilliant "Evening Star" will first appear as the sky darkens after sunset. It will descend the sky and set shortly before 9 p.m. in your local time zone.
Venus will reach its greatest elongation 45 degrees east of the sun on June 3, just as it crosses from Gemini into Cancer. On that evening Venus will line up to the left of the less lustrous twin stars of Gemini, Pollux and Castor.
The muted speck of reddish Mars will shine a fist's diameter to Venus' upper left (or 10 degrees to its celestial east-southeast). Venus will approach closer to Mars every evening. They'll end the month 3.6 degrees apart.
Visually, Venus will brighten daily. Under magnification, it will exhibit a half-illuminated phase that wanes from 51% to 32% during June while its disk grows in size from 22.6 to 33.5 arc seconds. On the evenings surrounding June 13, Venus will skim the northern edge of the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive or Messier 44. The waxing crescent moon will form a triangle with Venus and Mars on June 21, setting up a lovely photo opportunity and a visual treat in binoculars.
Mars
The rather unimpressive, reddish dot of Mars will be positioned to the upper left of far brighter Venus in the western sky during June. The fading planet will become visible after dusk and then set around 9:30 p.m. in your local time zone.
Over the month Mars will travel eastward on a beeline towards Leo's brightest star Regulus. Meanwhile, Venus will approach Mars from the celestial west. They'll end the month 3.6 degrees apart. For several evenings starting on June 1, Mars will pass directly through the large open star cluster in Cancer known as the Beehive and Messier 44, landing in the center of the cluster on June 2. On June 20 Mars will depart Cancer for Leo. As Earth's distance from Mars continues to increase over the course of the month, the planet will fade from magnitude 1.59 to 1.72, a little fainter than Regulus. Telescope views of Mars in June will show a shrinking, 94%-illuminated disk that spans about 4.5 arc-seconds. The waxing crescent moon will hop past Venus and Mars on June 21-22, setting up a lovely photo opportunity and a visual treat in binoculars.
Jupiter
The very bright planet Jupiter will spend June breaking free of the pre-dawn twilight in the eastern sky while it travels prograde eastward through the stars of southwestern Aries. As the month opens the planet will shine at magnitude -2.1 when it rises shortly after 3:30 a.m. local time. By the end of June, the slightly brighter giant planet will be rising around 2 a.m. local time — early enough for the stars of the Ram and the head of Cetus to twinkle around it for an hour or so before dawn.
For the first few days of June, the planet Mercury will be positioned to Jupiter's lower left before sunrise, with their separation increasing daily. Faster Jupiter will also be chasing slower, fainter Uranus along the ecliptic, but Uranus will not really become observable until after mid-month when it will be 14.5 degrees east of Jupiter. They'll end the month 12.5 degrees apart.
Binoculars will show Jupiter's tiny disk flanked by a line-up of four Galilean moons. Telescope views of Jupiter will reveal its banded disk, the Great Red Spot every second or third morning, and transits across Jupiter of the small, black shadows of the moons — individually, or as pairs on June 4 (for western Africa), on June 8 (for eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea), and on June 11 (for eastern North America and all of South America). On June 14, the old, waning crescent moon will shine just to Jupiter's left, or celestial northeast — making a nice photo opportunity.
Saturn
Rising shortly after midnight for most of the month, and located in central Aquarius, yellowish Saturn will officially enter the late evening summer sky during the final week of June.
It will slightly brighten and increase its apparent size as we decrease our distance from the ringed planet. On June 18, Saturn will put the brakes on its regular eastward motion through the stars and begin a retrograde loop that will last until early November.
All month long Northern Hemisphere observers will have several hours to view Saturn by telescope during the wee hours of the night— but it won't achieve much elevation in the sky before the dawn sky begins to brighten. A backyard telescope will catch some of Saturn's moons and easily show its rings, which will be only 9 degrees from edge-on this year. The planet's disk and rings will span 17.6 and 41 arc-seconds wide, respectively in June. Watch for a wedge of shadow cast onto the rings alongside Saturn's northwestern limb. On June 9-10 the third quarter moon will hop by Saturn, but several finger widths below (or 3 degrees to the south of) the planet.
Uranus
A few weeks past solar conjunction, magnitude 5.85 Uranus will spend June in the eastern pre-dawn sky increasing its solar elongation from 20.5 to 25 degrees. Pursued along the ecliptic by faster Jupiter, Uranus will decrease its angular separation from that planet from 17 to 12.5 degrees over the month.
Meanwhile, on the mornings surrounding June 4, the planet Mercury will pass 3 degrees to the upper left (or celestial north) of Uranus — a pairing best seen by observers near tropical latitudes. Uranus' blue-green, 3.5 arc-seconds-wide disk will climb high enough for telescope viewing during the final third of June — but skywatchers can spot Uranus using binoculars around 4 a.m. local time on June 15, when it will be positioned less than two lunar diameters to the lower right of the waning crescent moon.
Neptune
Neptune will spend the month of June in the southeastern pre-dawn sky among the stars of southwestern Pisces. Its magnitude 7.9 speck will also be positioned between the bright gas giant planets Saturn and Jupiter.
The waning crescent moon will shine several degrees to the lower right (or celestial south) of Neptune on June 11. Towards the end of the month, the blue planet will begin to rise around midnight, providing plenty of time for telescope viewing during the wee hours of the night. By then the planet will have nearly ceased its easterly motion as it readies for its annual retrograde loop.
Skywatching terms
Gibbous: Used to describe a planet or moon that is more than 50% illuminated.
Asterism: A noteworthy or striking pattern of stars within a larger constellation.
Degrees (measuring the sky): The sky is 360 degrees all the way around, which means roughly 180 degrees from horizon to horizon. It's easy to measure distances between objects: Your fist on an outstretched arm covers about 10 degrees of sky, while a finger covers about one degree.
Visual Magnitude: This is the astronomer's scale for measuring the brightness of objects in the sky. The dimmest object visible in the night sky under perfectly dark conditions is about magnitude 6.5. Brighter stars are magnitude 2 or 1. The brightest objects get negative numbers. Venus can be as bright as magnitude minus 4.9. The full moon is minus 12.7 and the sun is minus 26.8.
Terminator: The boundary on the moon between sunlight and shadow.
Zenith: The point in the sky directly overhead.
Night sky observing tips
Adjust to the dark: If you wish to observe fainter objects, such as meteors, dim stars, nebulas, and galaxies, give your eyes at least 15 minutes to adjust to the darkness. Avoid looking at your phone's bright screen by keeping it tucked away. If you must use it, set the brightness to minimum — or cover it with clingy red film.
Light Pollution: Even from a big city, one can see the moon, a handful of bright stars, and the brightest planets - if they are above the horizon. But to fully enjoy the heavens — especially a meteor shower, the fainter constellations, or to see the amazing swath across the sky that is the disk of our home galaxy, the Milky Way — rural areas are best for night sky viewing. If you're stuck in a city or suburban area, use a tree or dark building to block ambient light (or moonlight) and help reveal fainter sky objects. If you're in the suburbs, simply turning off outdoor lights can help.
Prepare for skywatching: If you plan to be outside for more than a few minutes, and it's not a warm summer evening, dress more warmly than you think is necessary. An hour of winter observing can chill you to the bone. For meteor showers, a blanket or lounge chair will prove to be much more comfortable than standing, or sitting in a chair and craning your neck to see overhead.
Daytime skywatching: On the days surrounding first quarter, the moon is visible in the afternoon daytime sky. At last quarter, the moon rises before sunrise and lingers into the morning daytime sky. When Venus is at a significant angle away from the sun it can often be spotted during the day as a brilliant point of light - but you'll need to consult an astronomy app to know when and where to look for it. When large sunspots develop on the sun, they can be seen without a telescope — as long as you use proper solar filters, such as eclipse glasses. Permanent eye damage can occur if you look at the sun for any length of time without protective eyewear.
