PAGASA

Calendar of Astronomical Events JUNE 2026

Date	Event	Time
01	Moon at Apogee (Distance = 406,327.666 km)	12:33 p.m.
07	Daytime Arietid meteor shower (ZHR = 50)	---
10	Close Approach of Venus and Jupiter	03:48 a.m.
10	Mercury at dichotomy	04:19 a.m.
10	Conjunction of the Waning Crescent Moon and Saturn	07:41 p.m.
13	Conjunction of the Moon and Mars	05:15 a.m.
14	Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky	---
15	Moon at Perigee (Distance = 357,305.041 km)	07:20 a.m.
16	Mercury at greatest elongation east	04:00 a.m.
17	Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury	03:32 a.m.
18	Conjunction of the Moon and Venus	04:21 a.m.
18	Close approach of the Moon and Venus	04:30 a.m.
21	June Solstice	04:24 p.m.
27	June Bootid meteor shower (ZHR = var)	---
28	Moon at Apogee (Distance = 406,224.583 km)	03:11 p.m.
30	International Asteroid Day	---

Moon Phases

	Last Quarter
	Jun 08	06:00 PM
	New Moon
	Jun 15	10:54 AM
	First Quarter
	Jun 22	05:55 AM
	Full Moon
	Jun 30	07:57 AM

Rise and Set Times of Planets

Date	Mercury		Venus		Mars		Jupiter		Saturn
Date	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set	Rise	Set
Jun 01	06:43 am	07:47 pm	07:56 am	08:56 pm	03:31 am	04:06 pm	08:36 am	09:27 pm	02:02 am	02:11 pm
Jun 11	07:10 am	08:10 pm	08:10 am	09:05 pm	03:18 am	03:58 pm	08:05 am	08:55 pm	01:26 am	01:35 pm
Jun 21	07:14 am	08:05 pm	08:22 am	09:11 pm	03:06 am	03:50 pm	07:35 am	08:24 pm	12:49 am	12:58 pm
Jun 30	06:53 am	07:36 pm	08:32 am	09:13 pm	02:55 am	03:43 pm	07:08 am	07:56 pm	12:15 am	12:25 pm

* = following day

Stars and Constellation

The gentle night skies of June reveal a quieter and more subtle set of constellations, yet they remain significant in both mythological tradition and scientific study. In the northern sky, Ursa Minor and Bootes serve as prominent reference points for orientation, while Libra, Lupus, and Circinus are observable in the southern sky during the evening hours. Collectively, these constellations illustrate the enduring connection between celestial navigation, cultural narratives, and the continued advancement of astronomical knowledge. These constellations will be prominently visible overhead at 09:00 p.m. on 15 June 2026, as shown in Figure 1. [1]

Figure 1: The view of the night sky featuring the prominent June constellations at 09:00 p.m. on 15 June 2026 using the Stellarium software

Ursa Minor, or the Little Bear, is a circumpolar constellation, visible throughout the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Its brightest star, Polaris, the North Star, has guided travelers for centuries due to its nearly fixed position near the celestial north pole. Polaris is a multiple star system dominated by a yellow supergiant, accompanied by two smaller stars. Although Ursa Minor is relatively faint, Polaris shines prominently, making the constellation easy to identify. Other notable stars include Kochab and Pherkad, the “Guardians of the Pole,” which were once pole stars themselves, and Yildun, known for its steady brightness. Few deep-sky objects stand out in Ursa Minor. Among them is the Ursa Minor Dwarf (UGC 9749), a dwarf spheroidal galaxy with a magnitude of 11.9, composed mainly of old stars and orbiting the Milky Way. Another one is NGC 6217 [Figure 2a], a barred spiral galaxy with a magnitude of 11.2, visible in modest telescopes and located around 67 million light-years away. [2,3]

Boötes, the Herdsman, is a prominent constellation celebrated for its cultural significance, mythological stories, and remarkable astronomical features. Its brightest star, Arcturus, is an orange giant located 36.7 light-years from Earth and is the brightest star in the northern sky, with an apparent magnitude of -0.05. Positioned at the Herdsman’s left foot, Arcturus’ name derives from the Ancient Greek Arktouros, meaning “Guardian of the Bear,” in reference to Ursa Major. Boötes is outlined by the Kite, or “Ice Cream Cone” asterism, with Arcturus at its base and surrounding bright stars forming a distinctive shape that makes the constellation easy to recognize. Although Boötes is best known for its bright stars, especially Arcturus, it also contains several fascinating deep-sky objects. These include the spheroidal Boötes Dwarf Galaxy, located 197,000 light-years away, with a magnitude of 13.1, making it one of the faintest galaxies discovered. Other objects of interest are the galaxies NGC 5548 [Figure 2b] and NGC 5653 [Figure 2c]. [2,4]

Figure 2: The Northern Constellations

The Libra constellation, symbolized by the Scales, is one of the zodiacal constellations, representing balance and justice. Its brightest star, Zubeneschamali (Beta Librae), is a blue dwarf about 185 light-years away, while the second brightest, Zubenelgenubi (Alpha Librae), is a binary system roughly 77 light-years distant. Together, these stars form the balance beam of the scales, while the fainter Zubenelhakrabi (Gamma Librae) and Brachium (Sigma Librae) mark the weighing pans. Deep sky objects in Libra are generally faint. Notable examples include the globular cluster NGC 5897, the barred spiral galaxies NGC 5793 [Figure 3a] and NGC 5885, and the unbarred lenticular galaxy NGC 5890. Libra is often seen as a downward-pointing quadrilateral or rhombus, formed by its four main stars, making the constellation easily recognizable. [2,5,6]

The Circinus constellation, though relatively small and lesser-known, occupies a distinctive place in the southern sky. It features several notable stars, including Alpha Circini, its brightest, with an apparent magnitude of 3.19. Alpha Circini is a variable star and a close binary system located roughly 53.5 light-years from Earth. Beta Circini, the second brightest, is a main-sequence star of spectral type A with an apparent magnitude of 4.07, situated roughly 100 light-years away. Circinus is also rich in deep-sky objects, including galaxies, nebulae, and other celestial bodies, intriguing both amateur stargazers and professional astronomers. The most notable is the Circinus Galaxy (ESO 97-G13) [Figure 3b], an active Seyfert galaxy discovered in the 1970s. Located about 13 million light-years away, it is one of the Milky Way’s closest neighboring galaxies. The constellation also hosts the planetary nebula NGC 5315 [Figure 3c], with an apparent magnitude of 9.8, displaying reddish hues visible only through professional telescopes. Circinus lies next to Alpha Centauri, the fourth brightest star in the sky, within the constellation Centaurus. [7,8]

Figure 3: The Southern Constellations

Planetary Location

Early mornings in June offer views of Saturn and Mars rising in the east, remaining visible until the brightness of the Sun gradually obscures them. After sunset, Jupiter and Venus will be prominent in the night sky, offering excellent evening viewing until they set over the western horizon. Mercury will also be visible at twilight, though its low altitude makes it increasingly difficult to observe later in the month. Mercury will reach dichotomy, appearing in its half-phase, on 10 June at 04:19 a.m. It will attain its highest point in the evening sky on 14 June, shining at magnitude 0.4. Two days later, at 04:00 a.m., Mercury will reach its greatest eastern elongation, 24.5° from the Sun, marking the peak of its evening visibility. [1,9,10,11,12]

On 09 June at 08:00 p.m., Venus and Jupiter will reach conjunction, sharing the same right ascension and appearing just 1°38’ apart in the sky. The following day, at 03:48 a.m., the two planets will make an even closer approach, passing within 1°36’ of each other. Both planets will be visible in the constellation Gemini, with Jupiter shining brightly at magnitude -4.0 and Venus at magnitude -1.9. The exact timing of their conjunction will be observable low above the western horizon [Figure 4]. [9,13]

Figure 4: The view of the north-northwestern sky showing the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter on 09 June at 08:00 p.m. using Stellarium.

On 10 June at 02:49 p.m., the Waning Crescent Moon will make a close approach to Saturn, drawing within 5°32’ of the ringed planet. Later that evening, at 07:41 p.m., the two will reach conjunction, with the Moon passing 6°12’ north of Saturn. Both objects will lie within the constellation Pisces. The Moon will shine at an apparent magnitude of -11.3, while Saturn will appear at magnitude 0.6. Although the exact moments of these events will occur below the horizon, the pair will still provide an attractive sight in the early morning sky around 04:45 a.m. [Figure 5], remaining visible close together until they fade into the Sun’s glare near sunrise. [9,14]

Figure 5: The view of the southeastern sky showing the pairing of the Waning Crescent Moon and Saturn on 10 June at 04:45 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 13 June at 05:15 a.m., the Moon will pass 5°38’ north of Mars as the two objects reach conjunction in the constellation Aries. The two objects will shine at magnitudes -10.0 and 1.3, respectively. Observing the precise moment of conjunction will be challenging, as scattered sunlight from the approaching sunrise will already illuminate the sky; however, the pair will be visible from around 04:00 a.m. [Figure 6] in the eastern horizon. [9,15]

Figure 6: The view of the eastern sky showing the pairing of the Moon and Mars on 13 June at 04:00 a.m. using Stellarium.

On 17 June at 03:32 a.m., the 2-day-old Moon will be in conjunction with Mercury, passing 2°35’ north of the planet. Later that day, at 02:51 p.m., the Moon will also reach conjunction with Jupiter, passing 2°32’ north. About one hour afterward, the Moon and Jupiter will make a close approach, or appulse, with a separation of 2°27’. All three objects will lie within the constellation Gemini. The following day, at 04:21 a.m., the Moon will be in conjunction with Venus, passing 17’ north of the planet. At nearly the same moment, their angular separation will narrow slightly to 16.2’, marking their close approach. Both objects will be located in the constellation Cancer. The exact events involving Jupiter occur during daytime, while the remaining events
take place below the horizon. Nevertheless, observers may enjoy their celestial gathering from around 07:00 p.m. on 17 June [Figure 7], when Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and the crescent Moon appear aligned above the western horizon as they gradually set after sunset. [9,16,17,18]

Figure 7: The view of the western sky showing the celestial gathering of the Moon, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus on 17 June at 07:00 p.m. using Stellarium.

All the conjunctions and near approaches mentioned between the planet and the moon, or planet to planet, will be visible enough to fit within the field of view of a telescope and can also be viewed with the naked eye or using a pair of binoculars.

June Solstice

On 21 June at 04:24 p.m., the June Solstice will occur as the Sun attains its northernmost position in the sky, against the background stars of the constellation Cancer, at a declination of 23.5° north. The event marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere, bringing the longest day and shortest night of the year to locations north of the equator, while regions south of the equator experience the opposite. [9,19]

Meteor Shower

The Daytime Arietids stand out as one of the most productive meteor showers of the year, yet are least observed by casual observers as they occur mostly during daytime. This shower is active from 14 May to 24 June, peaking on 07 June, with a nominal rate of about fifty (50) meteors per hour under favorable conditions. Its radiant is located in the constellation Aries, which gives the shower its name. The radiant rises above the eastern horizon around 03:09 a.m. and remains above the horizon until dawn at 05:00 a.m. Although the radiant reaches its highest point after sunrise, the best conditions for observation occur shortly before dawn [Figure 8]. The meteor shower’s peak near the new moon will provide optimal viewing conditions with reduced moonlight interference. [20]

Figure 8: The view of the east northeastern sky during the peak of Daytime Arietid meteor shower on 07 June 2026 at 05:00 a.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

The June Bootid meteor shower will be active from 22 June to 02 July, with peak activity expected on 27 June. This variable meteor shower originates from debris left behind by Comet 7P/Pons–Winnecke. Its radiant point lies within the constellation Boötes, from which the shower derives its name. The June Boötids become observable once the radiant rises above the eastern horizon at dusk and remain visible until around 03:40 a.m. the following day. The radiant reaches its highest point in the sky at approximately 08:00 p.m. [Figure 9], making the late evening hours the most favorable time for observation. During the shower’s peak, the Moon will be located in the constellation Scorpius and will be just two days away from its full phase. As a result, bright moonlight is expected to cause significant interference throughout the night, potentially reducing the visibility of fainter meteors. [21,22]

Figure 9: The view of the north-northeastern sky during the peak of June Bootid meteor shower on 27 June 2026 at 08:00 p.m. when the shower’s radiant is represented by the green solid circle.

Meteor showers are observable with the naked eye, and no special equipment, such as telescopes or binoculars, is needed. Maximize the viewing experience by choosing a dark observation site away from city lights under a clear, moonless sky.

Watch: Astronomical Events for June 2026

Notes and References

Notes:
*following day
• All times displayed are in Philippine Standard Time (PhST)

References:
[1] PAGASA Special Publication No. 840; The Philippine Star Atlas 2019/Stellarium Software
[2] C. Guide, “Constellations: A Guide to the Night Sky.” https://www.constellation-guide.com/constellations-by-month/juneconstellations/, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[3] Go Astronomy, “URSA MINOR CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Ursa%20Minor, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[4] Go Astronomy, “BOOTES CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Bootes, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[5] Go Astronomy, “LIBRA CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Libra, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[6] Label Stars, “Libra Constellation: The Ultimate Guide https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/libra-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[7] Go Astronomy, “CIRCINUS CONSTELLATION” https://www.go-astronomy.com/constellations.php?Name=Circinus, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[8] Label Stars, “Circinus Constellation: The Ultimate Guide https://labelstars.com/en/constellations-list/circinus-constellation, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[9] Multi-Interactive Computer Almanac (MICA), Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[10] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at dichotomy” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260609 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[11] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at highest altitude in evening sky” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260615 11 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[12] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Mercury at greatest elongation east” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260615 11 101, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[13] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of Venus and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260609 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[14] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Saturn” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260610 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[15] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Mars” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260612 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[16] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Conjunction of the Moon and Mercury” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260616 20 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[17] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Jupiter” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260617 15 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[18] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Close approach of the Moon and Venus” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260617 15 101, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[19] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “June Solstice” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260621 07 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[20] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “Daytime Arietid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260610 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[21] D. Ford, In-The-Sky.org Guide to the night sky: “June Bootid meteor shower 2026” https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20260627 10 100, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.
[22] IMO - International Meteor Organization, “List of Meteor Showers for Observation Session” https://www.imo.net/members/imo showers/working shower list, Last accessed on 2026-05-20, 2026.

For more information, call or email:

Ms. Ma. Rosario C. Ramos
Chief, SSAS - RDTD
PAGASA - DOST
Diliman, Quezon City
Trunkline: 8284-0800 loc 3015, 3016, 3017
Email address: astronomy@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

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