Venus to disappear behind Moon in rare June sky event
6 reported
According to NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, June 2026 offers several skywatching events, including a close encounter between Venus and Jupiter after sunset, a rare lunar occultation of Venus, and the start of astronomical summer. The two brightest planets, Venus and Jupiter, will appear especially close together around June 9 in a planetary conjunction. From June 11 through June 15, Mercury will join Venus and Jupiter low in the western sky, forming a three-planet lineup. On June 17, the Moon will pass directly in front of Venus for observers in parts of the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela, an event called a lunar occultation. The June solstice, marking the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurs on June 21 at 1:24 a.m. Pacific time. Later in the month, the Summer Triangle and deep-sky objects such as the Dumbbell Nebula, Ring Nebula, North America Nebula, and Veil Nebula become visible.
What’s reported
Venus and Jupiter will appear close together around June 9 in a planetary conjunction.
Mercury joins Venus and Jupiter from June 11 through June 15, forming a three-planet lineup.
On June 17, the Moon passes directly in front of Venus for observers in parts of the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela.
The June solstice occurs on June 21 at 1:24 a.m. Pacific time, marking the start of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Summer Triangle, formed by stars Vega, Altair, and Deneb, and deep-sky objects including the Dumbbell Nebula, Ring Nebula, North America Nebula, and Veil Nebula return later in the month.
The Dumbbell Nebula (Messier 27) was the first planetary nebula ever discovered.
Sources: ScienceDaily
