Topline
Here comes the defining week of June for skywatchers. Venus and Jupiter come together in one of the most striking naked-eye events of the year, forming a brilliant pairing low in the twilight sky, with Mercury close by. At the same time, the moon wanes toward its new phase, making this week one of dark skies. Soon, a waxing moon and the coming summer solstice will make stargazing in the Northern Hemisphere difficult. Here’s everything you need to know about stargazing and the night sky from June 8-14, 2026.
Timeline
Tuesday, June 9Venus and Jupiter reach conjunction, appearing just over a degree apart after sunset. Venus shines seven times brighter, with Jupiter just beside it — a rare and beautiful sight with the naked eye. Both will be in the same field of view in binoculars.
Wednesday, June 10Before sunrise, a 32%-lit waning thin crescent moon appears low in the east just above the planet Saturn. After sunset, Mercury will be a as high in the post-sunset sky as it gets, making it a great time to see a trio of planets together.
Saturday, June 13Before sunrise, a 5%-lit waning thin crescent moon appears low in the east-northeast between the Pleiades open cluster and the planet Mars.
Sunday, June 14The moon reaches new phase, leaving the sky free of moonlight. Today also sees the earliest sunrises of the year across North America.
Read more Northern Lights Forecast: Aurora Could Be Visible In These 9 States Sunday
THE LAST TRUE DARK-SKY WINDOW
This is effectively your final chance for meaningful darkness until late summer. After the solstice, the sun never drops far enough below the horizon for true night in many northern locations. To take advantage of the narrow window, be outside about 60-90 minutes after sunset, when the sky reaches peak darkness before beginning to brighten again toward dawn. That window may only last an hour if you’re in northern U.S. states — but it’s enough.
Constellation Of The Week: Lyra
Lyra is a small constellation, but it’s impossible to ignore because of its brightest star, Vega, one of the most luminous in the sky. It dominates summer nights. What makes Lyra useful in June is its timing. It rises just as darkness peaks, making it one of the first true summer markers. Once you spot Vega, you’ve effectively located the central pillar of the summer sky.
Vega is one of the brightest, most famous and most important stars in the night sky. Why? It’s the star astronomers use as a benchmark for brightness — it’s zero. What’s more, Vega was the “north star” in 12,000 B.C. and will be again around 13,700 A.D. Just 25 light-years from the solar system, Vega is 455 million years old, a tenth of the age of our sun, but 40 times brighter. It has no planets.
The times and dates given apply to mid-northern latitudes. For the most accurate location-specific information, consult online planetariums like Stellarium.
Read more Earth’s Rotation Is Slowing Faster Than In 3.6 Million Years
Further reading
ForbesDon’t Miss Three Bright Planets Lining Up After Sunset This WeekendBy Jamie CarterForbesVenus And Jupiter To Almost Touch After Sunset In Close ConjunctionBy Jamie CarterForbesSpaceX IPO: Why Starship Could End Overnight Business TravelBy Jamie Carter