Sky Report

June, 2025

This is the Griffith Observatory Sky Report for the period between June 1 and June 30, 2025. Here are the events happening in the sky of southern California.

All times are in Pacific Daylight Time, PDT.

The sun rises on the 1^st at 5:43 a.m., and sets at 8:00 p.m.  On the 30^th, the sun rises at 5:45 a.m. and sets at 8:09 p.m.

Mercury on the 1^st is close to the sun and cannot be safely observed.  On the 9^th, the sun sets at 8:04 p.m., and Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 9:07 p.m., one hour three minutes later. The planet is 89-percent illuminated and 5.4 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mercury sets in the west-northwest at 9:45 p.m., one hour 36 minutes later. The planet is 46-percent illuminated and 7.5 arcseconds wide.

Venus rises in the east at 3:26 a.m. and is 50-percent illuminated and 24 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Venus rises in the east-northeast at 3:04 a.m. and is 63-percent illuminated and 18 arcseconds wide.

Mars is in Leo the Lion. On the 1^st, Mars sets in the west-northwest at 12:37 a.m. and is 91-percent illuminated and 5.5 arcseconds wide. On the 30^th, Mars sets in the west-northwest at 11:24 p.m. and is 92-percent illuminated and 4.9 arcseconds wide. On the 29^th at 6:15 p.m., Mars is only 17 arcminutes from the center of the 24-percent-illuminated waxing crescent moon, two arcminutes from the lunar limb. A magnification of over 150x is needed to see the planet’s small disk.

Jupiter moves from Taurus the Bull into Gemini the Twins on the 11^th. On the 1^st, Jupiter sets in the west-northwest at 9:13 p.m., one hour 13 minutes after the sun sets. On the 6^th, the sun sets at 8:03 p.m., and Jupiter sets at 8:58 p.m., 55 minutes later.  After the 6^th, Jupiter is close to the sun and is not safe to observe. The planet 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 is in Pisces the Fishes. On the 1^st, Saturn rises in the east at 2:20 a.m. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 12:30 a.m. Saturn is 17 arcseconds wide. The rings and Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, can be seen with a telescope capable of magnification 50x. Saturn is about one degree south of Neptune in June.

Uranus is close to the sun on the 1^st and not safe to observe. On the 6^th, the planet rises in the east-northeast at 4:39 a.m., and the sun rises at 5:42 a.m., one hour three minutes later. On the 30^th, Uranus rises at 3:09 a.m. On the 15^th, Uranus is at Right Ascension 3^h 46^m 51^s and declination of +19° 42ʹ 21ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 3.5-arcsecond disk.

Neptune rises on the 1^st in the east at 2:20 a.m. On the 30^th, the planet rises at 12:27 a.m. On the 15^th, Neptune is at Right Ascension 0^h 9^m 40^s and declination of -0° 22ʹ 47ʺ. A magnification of 150x or more is needed to see the planet’s 2.3-arcsecond disk. Neptune is a degree north of Saturn all month long.

The moon is at first quarter on the 2^nd, full moon on the 11^th, last quarter on the 18^th, and new moon on the 25^th.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Summer begins in the northern hemisphere, and winter in the southern hemisphere, at 7:42 p.m. 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.

In the major lunar standstill of 2024-2025, the June southernmost moon sets as a full moon on the 11^th at 5:36 a.m. No events are planned by Griffith for this event. Later that day, the southernmost moon rises as a 99-percent waning gibbous moon at 9:02 p.m. Griffith Observatory is planning on a public event at the observatory and a web broadcast for this standstill. For details on the major lunar standstill, please visit the website at https://griffithobservatory.org/extreme-moon-the-major-lunar-standstills-of-2024-2025/

Follow All Space Considered and Griffith Observatory on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter for updates on astronomy and space-related events.

June 1st to the 10th shows the Moon waxing which means more of its surface is illuminated. The Full Moon on the 11th ends this cycle. Starting from the 12th on, the Moon is waning. The First Quarter is on the 2nd, and the Last Quarter is on the 18th. June 25th marks the New Moon.

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