Strawberry Moon to Butterfly stars: 9 astronomical events you shouldn't miss out on in June 2025
The world of astronomy is one of the most enigmatic yet intriguing ones around. From stars forming unimaginable patterns to the meteors lighting the sky, there are a multitude of events that we humans await to experience in all their glory because space and its citizens are a thing of wonder to us.
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Every month, some stunning visuals grace the skies and in June, these are the 9 astronomical events that you should definitely not miss out on.
June 1: Catch a sight of Venus
Image credits: X/@MAstronomers
On June 1st, Venus will reach its farthest distance west of the sun from the point of view of the Earth and this point is known as the greatest western elongation. This is the perfect time to get a glimpse at the planet away from sunlight before dawn when it rises in the eastern sky in the Northern Hemisphere and northeastern sky in the Southern Hemisphere.
June 2: The Great Hercules Cluster
Image credits: X/@BigKahunaRon
Globular clusters are densely packed clusters of hundreds of thousands of stars held together by gravity. On June 2nd, The Great Hercules Cluster or Messier 13 will reach its highest point in the night sky thus being perfect for viewing with the help of binoculars. Discovered in 1714 by English astronomer Edmond Halley, the one after whom Halley's comet has been named, this cluster has more than 100,000 stars in a spheroidal shape.
June 7: Arietid meteor shower
Image credits: X/@Tex369X
Unlike other meteor showers that mostly happen at night, the Arietid meteor shower happens during daytime. This means most meteors are nearly impossible to see but if you get up in the pre-dawn hours on June 7, you might be able to see coloured dots in the sky.
June 11: Strawberry moon
Image credits: X/@dafaqzoey
Seems impossible right? But yes, June's full moon, known as the "strawberry moon" will be visible on June 11. While the moon will not have the red colour, its name is derived from the Indigenous traditions in North America that link full moons to harvesting and hunting traditions.
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Additionally, June is known for the ripening of wild strawberries too.
June 16: Butterfly cluster
Image credits: X/@maiz_julio
The star Regulus which is known for its colourful twinkling will have a close encounter with Mars on June 16 just 90 minutes before sunset. Later around midnight, a globular cluster in the shape of a butterfly will be visible with the help of binoculars.
June 22: Nebula
Image credits: X/@maiz_julio
In June, you can also catch a sight of the Lagoon Nebula or Messier 8 which is a swirling cloud of interstellar gas where stars are born.
It will reach its peak in the sky on June 22 and while people in the mid-latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere can see with the naked eye, others can make use of binoculars or telescopes.
June 25: Stargaze
Image credits: X/@uhd2020
On June 25, there's a new moon lunar cycle which means the sky will be dark enough for stargazing with your loved one. This is the perfect time to aim for the bigger beauties like the Milky Way.
June 27: Bootid meteor shower
Image credits: X/@wqed
In case morning meteor showers are not your thing and the beauty of the night sky enchants you like no other, wait for the Bootid meteor shower which is known for its display of hundreds of shooting stars.
June 30: Moon meets Mars
Image credits: X/@StarWalk
On June 30th, the waxing crescent moon and Mars will pass within 1°16' of each other. The distance between them is just that of a pinky finger and thus you'll be able to see them together with a pair of binoculars. Also, watch out for the "earthshine" phenomenon where light reflected from Earth makes the unlit part of the moon glow faintly just after sunset or right before sunshine.
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