Venus Becomes A Vamp In June

What a planet!  Venus is really making a spectacle of herself this month, joining with stars, having a rendevous with Saturn at the end of the month you'd be nuts to miss.

As she falls from her western peak, Venus will be making several pairings.  You'll see her in opposition to Jupiter, our most active and dynamic planet, early this month. 

During June, Mercury is waning quite rapidly, and will be lost to view by the 10th.

The best time I'd say, to look at Venus, is on the 18th.  And then of course, at the end of the month when she flirts with Saturn.  But on the 18th if you have simple binocs, you'll see Venus in an exact half-light.  Watch the star chart move, and note the sight available on the 18th - Venus, on her way to meet with eager Saturn, finds that the Moon has come between them.

Right now she's enjoying the company of Pollox and Castor, the stars forming the "heads" of the Gemini twins.  Look for Venus again on the 12th and 13th when she makes a pass at a great cluster of stars in Cancer, called the "Beehive" cluster.  Then, from the 17th through 20th, the Moon takes notice of all this and decides to participate in an already impressive "contracting" line Venus forms with both Saturn and Regulus. 

What's really most exciting as I say, is Venus' dramatic approach to Saturn all June.  She's moving toward him and he's definitely interested.  Saturn makes his move and closes in on her from the upper left.  Look for this on the 16th, 23rd, 29th and 30th.  You may not see Saturn but you'll see Venus.  Binocs are all that's needed for all these pairings, except this last one: 

On the last evening of June, telescopes will show the dazzling spectacle I described earlier - their rendevous - the illuminated crescent of Venus, and the 17"-wide globe of Saturn with its splendid rings.  Yet Saturn will be alot dimmer, hence the scope. 

Saturn is in western Leo.  You want to know that for this end of month spectacle.  All month, Regulus hangs around to the left as if following at a safe distance, while Saturn charges out to meet Venus.  I'll keep postings about the placement of other space objects but this is the time of Venus, she's giving us something - I plan to accept.  Good show!  

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Some facts courtesy of Skywatcher, Sky & Telescope