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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the week ending Wednesday, June 25, 2014. Here is what’s happening in the skies of southern California:

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere (and winter in the southern) at 3:51 a.m., P.D.T. on Saturday, June 21. This is the summer solstice, and is the time that the sun is farthest north of the celestial equator and directly overhead at the tropic of Cancer. The summer solstice is also the longest day in the northern hemisphere. At Griffith Observatory, the sun rises at 5:42 a.m. and sets 14 hours and 26 minutes later, at 8:08 p.m. Northern hemisphere summer will end with the start of autumn on September 22.

The bright planets Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn are visible after sunset. During evening twilight, the planets form a line that stretches from the west-northwest to the southeast. Jupiter, the brightest of the three, is low in the west-northwest. In a month, it will be hidden from view, behind the sun. Jupiter sets as early as 9:31 p.m. this week. Orange Mars, in Virgo the Maiden, is midway between the southern horizon and the zenith during twilight. Retreating from its close approach to us in April, Mars still shows some surface detail and wispy clouds when observed through a powerful telescope. Virgo’s brightest star, Spica, glitters to the left of Mars. Golden planet Saturn is to the lower-left of Spica, in Libra the Scales. A telescope is needed to see Saturn’s spectacular ring system, and is a featured sight through the public telescopes at Griffith Observatory.

The moon is last quarter phase on the morning of the 19th, and rises at 12:31 a.m. on that date. On the 24th, the crescent moon will appear less than 2 degrees from the brightest planet, Venus, at dawn.

Free views of the sun during the day and of the moon, planets, and other celestial objects at night are available to the public in clear weather through Griffith Observatory’s telescopes from Tuesday through Sunday before 9:30 p.m. Check our website for our schedule. The next public star party on the grounds of Griffith Observatory, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, the Sidewalk Astronomers, and the Planetary Society, will take place on Saturday, July 5.

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From Griffith Observatory, I’m Anthony Cook and I can be reached at griffithobserver@gmail.com.