Stargazing This Week: Planets, Stars, and a Moon-Saturn Meetup

1. Venus, Mars, and Regulus Light Up the Sky
Venus continues its reign as the “Morning Star,” visible 2–3 hours before sunrise in the eastern sky. Its brilliance makes it easy to spot—even in twilight.
Mars gets close to Regulus, the brightest star in Leo, on June 16–17. Separated by just 0.8°, the pairing offers “a visually stunning and scientifically engaging” view, with Mars glowing rust-red next to the white-blue Regulus.

2. A Striking Moon and a Saturn Encounter
On June 13, a 97% illuminated waning gibbous Moon shows off crater shadows best viewed just after sunset. “The moon is showcasing its finest qualities here,” with golden-hour-like lighting enhancing its 3D features.
Then, on June 19 around 1:30 a.m., the third-quarter Moon will appear close to Saturn in Aquarius. With a telescope, “Saturn’s rings… provide a breathtaking perspective.”

3. A Cosmic Milestone
Also on June 13, we mark the anniversary of Pioneer 10 crossing Neptune’s orbit in 1983—becoming the first spacecraft to do so. “Wandering forever among the stars are our tiny mechanical messengers.”

4. Deep-Sky Wonders
Dark skies reveal even more:

• Milky Way Core: Best viewed late at night, this dense galactic center is “one of astronomy’s most spectacular views.”

• M13 in Hercules: A bright globular cluster visible overhead.

• Beehive Cluster (M44): A starry treat through binoculars after sunset.
  Bonus: With Mars visiting Leo, the lion-shaped constellation is easy to find this week.