June’s sky is full of reasons to step outside. The hot summer month is here with a lot of magic in the sky. From a bright Jupiter-Venus pairing and a Moon-Venus occultation to the Strawberry Moon, the solstice and more, here’s everything to watch out for in June 2026.
Celestial events often remind us that some of the most remarkable spectacles in the world do not require a ticket or a reservation. They simply require us to look at the sky on an ordinary evening and make it memorable. One minute, the sky is simply part of the background; the next, you can see hidden planets hanging, stars shining brighter than ever, meteors, constellations they teach about in schools, and, if you’re lucky, the Milky Way too.
June 2026 sky has these moments arrive one after the other, making it one of the most exciting months for stargazers. Even if you’re not into astronomy, these celestial events are worth looking out for. From the summer solstice and the return of the Strawberry Moon, here’s what the June 2026 skies have in store for us.
Celestial events happening in June 2026
Jupiter and Venus conjunction
If there’s one planetary sighting that you NEED to see, it is this one. In the early evening of June 9, Jupiter and Venus will pair up for a brilliant close encounter. This would create a conjunction, which is simply an optical pairing from Earth’s point of view. Simply put, it means that the two brightest planets in the evening sky will seem to hang near each other low in the west.
Mercury will also join this show from June 11 to 15. However, according to NASA, this mini parade of planets will be tricky to spot, especially Mercury, as it stays close to the horizon and disappears quickly into twilight.
New Supermoon
Mid-month brings the darkest skies of June. NASA’s moon face chart confirms that the June new moon will happen on June 14, and it is going to be a supermoon. A supermoon is a full or new moon that reaches its closest approach to Earth in its elliptical orbit, known as perigee. Based on the time zone, some locations will spot this supermoon on June 15. Since it’s a new moon, it will be completely hidden in the sun’s glare. This is the month’s best natural pause, a quiet stretch that favours long-exposure photography, faint stars and wide-open night views.
Moon passes in front of Venus
One of the more unusual events of the month happens on June 17, when the Moon passes in front of Venus. However, this will be visible in only a few parts of the world, including the U.S.A., Canada, Brazil, and Venezuela. NASA calls this a lunar occultation, in which Venus disappears behind the Moon and then reappears. In other parts of the world, the two can be seen very closely together.
Summer solstice
Sunday, June 21, marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, while the Southern Hemisphere starts preparing for winter. One of the biggest celestial and astrological events of the year, the summer solstice is considered auspicious. Additionally, it will be the longest day of the year, with sunlight lingering longer than usual.
Bootid meteor shower
June’s wildcard, Bootids, is a pleasant addition to the list for Americans. Known for being unpredictable, they are mostly faint and modest and usually only produce just one or two shooting stars per hour. But sometimes they defy all expectations, and, according to the American Meteor Society, it may happen around June 27. So if you’re lucky to catch it, make sure to wish upon it.
Strawberry Moon
The month is going to end with a beautiful strawberry Moon on June 29 (or June 30, based on your time zone). Despite the name, the Moon will not be pink or red. The full moon in June is known as the strawberry moon, a name originating with Native American Algonquin tribes. These tribes used the nickname to mark the brief, annual season of harvesting wild, June-bearing strawberries.
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