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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between June 1 and June 30, 2022. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury rises at 5:04 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st. Mercury is 9.25-percent illuminated and 11 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mercury rises at 4:30 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 5:45 a.m., PDT. Mercury is 71-percent illuminated and six arcseconds wide.  Do not observe any planet when it appears close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus rises at 3:50 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st. The planet is 78-percent illuminated and 14 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Venus rises at 3:46 a.m., PDT, with a disk 86-percent illuminated and 12 arcseconds wide.  The disk of Venus slowly shrinks in size and becomes more fully illuminated as it moves to the far side of its orbit.

Mars rises at 2:31 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and at 1:33 a.m., PDT, on the 30^th. On the 3^rd, Mars crosses from Pisces the Fishes to Cetus the Sea Monster and then crosses back into Pisces the Fishes on the 9^th. The disk of Mars is 86-percent illuminated and increases in size from 6.4 arcseconds on the 1^st to 7.2 arcseconds on the 30^th.  A telescope capable of magnification of 100x or more will be needed to show the disk and perhaps large surface features. On the 1^st, Mars will be less than two degrees east of Jupiter. The planet moves east away from Jupiter every night afterwards. On the 22^nd, the waning crescent moon appears three degree west of Mars.

Jupiter rises in Aquarius the Water Bearer at 2:24 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and rises at 12:40 a.m., PDT, on the 30^th. It moves into Cetus the Sea Monster on the 25^th. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot and the four bright Galilean moons, which can be seen moving back and forth, roughly in a line centered on Jupiter.

Saturn rises in Capricornus the Sea Goat at 12:41 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st and at 10:45 p.m., PDT, on the 30^th. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon Titan can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus rises in Aries the Ram at 4:19 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st and at 2:29 a.m., PDT, on the 30^th. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 2^h 57^m 34^s with a declination of +16° 29ʹ 47ʺ. Uranus is only 3.5 arcseconds wide, and so a telescope with a magnification of 150x is needed to show its diminutive disk.

Neptune rises in Pisces the Fishes at 2:02 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st and at 12:09 a.m., PDT, on the 30^th. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 23^h 43^m 50^s and at declination -3° 1ʹ 31ʺ.

First quarter occurs on the 7^th, full moon on the 14^th, last quarter on the 20^th, and new moon on the 28^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere, at 2:14 a.m., PDT, on June 21. At this precise moment, the sun reaches its northernmost point on the ecliptic.  This point and the time the sun meets it are called the summer solstice. Summer ends with the autumnal equinox on September 22.

The comet C/2017 K2 ( PanSTARRS ) may be visible with binoculars or a small telescope during June. The brightness of any comet can only be estimated, and it is not certain at this time whether it will be visible. The comet’s position can be determined accurately.
June 1             rises at 8:07 p.m.        RA: 18^h 21^m 57^s          Dec: 9° 29ʹ 42ʺ Est. Mag.: +6
June 15           rises at 8:07 p.m.        RA: 17^h 58^m 26^s          Dec: 6° 45ʹ 41ʺ Est. Mag.: +6
June 30           rises at 5:40 p.m.        RA: 17^h 28^m 11^s          Dec: 2° 15ʹ 53ʺ Est. Mag.: +8

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