Get ready for a celestial spectacle on June 17th! The moon will put on a dazzling display, leading a planetary parade in the western sky after sunset. But it's not just the moon that's the star of the show. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and the Beehive Cluster will all be in the spotlight, creating a breathtaking sight for stargazers. Imagine a slender crescent moon gleaming alongside the stars of the Beehive Cluster, with Mercury shining low on the western horizon and Jupiter glistening nearby. It's a sight that will take your breath away!
What makes this event even more fascinating is the phenomenon of earthshine. On June 17th, you might notice the soft glow of earthshine infusing the night side of the moon. This happens when light bounces off our planet and illuminates the lunar crescent as it glides through the 1,000-strong stellar population of the Beehive cluster. It's a subtle yet beautiful effect that adds to the overall spectacle.
If you're an astronomy enthusiast, you'll want to grab your binoculars or telescope to fully appreciate this event. A pair of 10x50 binoculars will reveal dozens of the brilliant, young stars surrounding the three-day-old moon. And with a 4-inch telescope, you can witness the cloud bands of Jupiter and its four large Galilean moons in all their glory.
But don't miss out on the timing! Mercury will be the first to slip from view, just two hours after sunset. The moon will remain visible for another hour for stargazers in the U.S. before it, too, dips below the western horizon. The following night, the waxing moon will leave Venus and the Beehive Cluster behind, heading towards the blue-white light of Regulus, a multi-star system in the constellation Leo.
As the weeks progress, Mercury will sink closer to the horizon, while Venus rises away from Jupiter and charts a course through the constellation Cancer. On July 9th, Venus will pass just 1 degree from Regulus, offering another stunning sight. So, mark your calendars and get ready to capture some incredible photos of this celestial parade!
If you're passionate about astrophotography, be sure to check out our resources. We've got roundups of the best cameras and lenses for capturing the night sky, as well as a beginner's guide to imaging the post-sunset realm. And if you've got some planetary photos you'd like to share, send them along with your name and location to spacephotos@space.com. Let's celebrate the beauty of the universe together!
