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This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between June 1 and June 30, 2024. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

Mercury rises in the east-northeast at 4:56 a.m., PDT, on the 1^st, and the sun rises at 5:43 a.m., PDT, 47 minutes later. The planet is 82-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. After the 7^th, Mercury is close to the sun and cannot be safely observed. On the 19^th, the sun sets at 8:08 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets at 8:41 p.m., PDT, 33 minutes later. On the 30^th, the sun sets 8:09 p.m., PDT, and Mercury sets at 9:23 p.m., PDT, one hour 14 minutes later. Mercury is 80-percent illuminated and 5.6 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Venus begins June close to the sun and is not observable.  On the 30^th, Venus sets in the west-northwest at 8:40 p.m., PDT, 31 minutes after sunset.  The planet is 99-percent illuminated and 9.7 arcseconds wide. Do not observe any planet when it comes close to the sun, for the danger to the eyes is great.

Mars rises on the 1^st in the east at 3:18 a.m., PDT. Mars is 92-percent illuminated and 5.0 arcseconds wide. A magnification of over 150x is needed to see such a small disk. On the 30^th, Mars rises in the east-northeast at 2:25 a.m., PDT, and the sun rises at 5:45 a.m., PDT. The planet is 91-percent illuminated and 5.4 arcseconds wide.

Jupiter rises on the 1^st in the east-northeast at 5:11 a.m., PDT, 32 minutes before sunrise. On the 30^th, Jupiter rises at 3:40 a.m., PDT. Jupiter is 34 arcseconds wide. A telescope capable of magnification 50x will show the Red Spot, and the four bright Galilean moons can be seen moving back and forth, across and behind Jupiter.

Saturn rises on the 1^st in the east at 1:48 a.m., PDT. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 11:52 p.m., PDT. Saturn is 17 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x.

Uranus rises on the 1^st in the east-northeast at 4:44 a.m., PDT, 59 minutes before the sun. On the 30^th, Uranus rises at 2:55 a.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 30^m 36^s and declination of +18° 44ʹ 49ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.4-arcsecond disk.

Neptune rises on the 1^st in the east at 2:14 a.m., PDT. On the 30^th, Neptune rises at 12:20 a.m., PDT. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 1^m 28^s and declination of -1° 13ʹ 15ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk.

New moon is on the 6^th, first quarter on the 13^th, full moon on the 21^st, and last quarter on the 28^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere, at 1:51 p.m., PDT, on June 20. 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.

Lunar-X is visible on the moon on the night of the 13^th for a few hours, starting at 8:49 p.m., PDT.  A telescope with a magnification of 100x is needed to see Lunar-X, which is caused by sunlight illuminating the rims of two craters, which appear as a white X on the dark portion of the moon.  It is located south of the center of the line between the lighted and dark halves of the moon.

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