Important astronomical events of summer 2023

02-06 Mars near M44

An interesting encounter is taking place in the night sky right now: Mars, the red planet, is close to star cluster M44, making for a beautiful sight. The conjunction can be easily seen, especially in the evening twilight over the western horizon. But Mars is not the only one that attracts attention: at a short distance, at about 10 degrees, we find Venus.

This morning a very special spectacle awaits us in the sky: the Moon and Saturn are in the constellation of Aquarius and offer us an impressive view. Jupiter can also be seen nearby, which completes the scene perfectly.

13-06 Venus near M44

On June 13, Venus is in the vicinity of the open star cluster M44, also known as The Manger. It is great to be able to combine an astronomical event of this type with deep sky observation.

14-06 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

On June 14, just four days after conjunction with Saturn, the Moon pays a visit to the planet Jupiter. It is worth getting up early to see this beautiful spectacle at dawn, since the Moon is in a thin waning quarter and will soon move into its new moon phase.

06-21 Start of summer

Summer begins on June 21, with the summer solstice. The Sun reaches its highest point in the sky of the northern hemisphere. We cannot actually observe this astronomical event, but we now experience the longest days and shortest nights.

21/22-06 Conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Mars

June 21 is a day that must be taken into account. Tonight, Venus and Mars meet the crescent Moon above the western horizon. This triple conjunction is especially impressive when it is not yet completely dark and we can enjoy the twilight sky.

27-06 June Bootids

From June 23 to 28 you can observe the Bootids rain. These shooting stars originate in the constellation of El Boyero and cross the sky relatively slowly. The number of meteors that fall is not very high, but it varies. That's why it's interesting to look at them more closely.

01-07 Conjunction of Venus and Mars

On July 1st our two neighboring planets, Venus and Mars, meet. Since the brightness of these two celestial bodies is very different, this conjunction is very attractive to observers. Big Mars fans should not miss this opportunity, because the red planet will disappear from the sky this month and will remain invisible for the rest of the year.

07-07 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

The Moon and Saturn rise above the horizon at the beginning of the second half of the night and accompany us until dawn. Both celestial bodies are located in the constellation of Aquarius.

09-07 Maximum illuminated extent of Venus

Venus reaches its maximum brightness on July 9 and appears almost like a spotlight in the sky, in an impressive spectacle for amateur astronomers.

12-07 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

On July 12 at 01:23, Jupiter rises and appears with a thin waning moon.

07-20 Conjunction of the Moon, Venus and Mars

On July 20, another fascinating event awaits us in the night sky. The crescent Moon approaches Venus and, together with Mars, forms a beautiful triple conjunction. However, to be able to observe it properly, it is necessary to have a good view of the horizon. If you want to enjoy this event or photograph it, find a good location as soon as possible. Pro tip: About 10 degrees west of Venus you can also see the planet Mercury.

07-22 Pluto in opposition

This is an astronomical event for advanced astronomers: Pluto, the former planet, now a dwarf planet, will be in opposition to the Sun on July 22. With a brightness of magnitude 14, you will only be able to distinguish and observe it with large telescopes. It is recommended to bring an observation map! Since Pluto is not far from star cluster M75, astrophotographers will have a great photo opportunity.

27-07 Golden handle

On the night of July 27, we will be able to see the Golden Asa on the Moon. It appears when the Moon is in the waxing phase and exactly 83% illuminated. This occurs about 10 days after the new moon. When this luminous phenomenon occurs, a handle shape is seen on the dark side of the boundary between light and shadow of the Moon.

30-07 Delta-Aquarids

The Delta Aquarids are shooting stars that can be seen from July 23 to 28 and come from the area of ​​the Aquarius constellation. We can admire up to 25 shooting stars per hour! The optimal viewing window is in the early morning hours, when the Moon has already set.

03-08 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

Today an interesting encounter takes place: the Moon encounters Saturn. The ringed planet will reach its opposition to the Sun this month and is therefore an ideal opportunity to observe it.

08-08 Conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter

First thing in the morning we will be able to admire the autumn and first winter constellations in the night sky. In the middle of them is our largest neighboring planet, Jupiter. On the 8th of this month the Moon approaches the gas giant and both form a striking conjunction in the sky.

12/13-08 The Perseids

The Perseids are the astronomical event par excellence for astronomers and all those interested in the night sky. On any given night, a particularly large number of shooting stars cross the sky and everyone is curious to see where the next trail of light will appear. On the night of August 12 to 13, the wait was over. Grab a blanket or lounger and a hot drink and enjoy the starry sky. With luck, up to 100 meteors per hour will fall that night. This year we have a special advantage: we are close to the new moon, so the night will be very dark.

08-27 Saturn in opposition

The ringed planet Saturn is in opposition to the Sun on August 27 and can be observed throughout the night: it is quite an event for any amateur astronomer.

08-30 Conjunction of the Moon and Saturn

On the night of August 30-31, the Moon and Saturn will be at a distance of about 3 degrees. Saturn is worth observing at any time, even if we now have a full moon.