Summer is beginning to make its presence known in the night sky this week. While the spring constellations still dominate the evening hours, some familiar summer sights are climbing higher in the east each night. The days are long, the evenings are warm, and this is one of the best times of year to spend a little time outdoors after sunset. Whether you’re watching a bright planet, searching for a favorite constellation, or simply enjoying a few quiet minutes under the stars, there’s plenty to see as the sky continues its seasonal shift toward summer.
🌙 Evening Highlights
Mercury makes a brief appearance in the evening sky this week. About 30 minutes after sunset, look low in the western sky just above the horizon. It won’t stay visible for long, so you’ll want a clear view to the west if you’d like to catch it.
Right after sunset, Venus is stealing the show. It shines so brightly that it’s often the first object you’ll notice as the sky begins to darken. If you’re looking west, it’s nearly impossible to miss.
Venus has now moved into Gemini, where Jupiter is also shining nearby. The two planets continue to draw closer together in the evening sky. Since Venus is much closer to Earth and moves faster in its orbit, you’ll be able to notice their changing positions from week to week.
Jupiter remains visible for much of the evening before finally setting after midnight. Even a small pair of binoculars can make the giant planet more interesting. Under steady skies, you may be able to spot its four largest moons lined up beside it like tiny stars.
🌅 Early Morning Sky
If you’re up before sunrise, there is still plenty happening in the morning sky.
Saturn is becoming easier to find in the southeast before dawn. Its steady golden glow helps it stand out once you know where to look. On Wednesday morning, the waning Moon passes just north of the ringed planet, creating a nice pairing in the early sky.
Mars is nearby, sitting lower and a bit to the left of Saturn. The Red Planet rises about an hour before sunrise. On Friday morning, look for the thin waning crescent Moon hanging directly above Mars.
✨ Constellations of the Week
This is the time of year when the changing seasons become especially noticeable in the night sky.
Near Jupiter, you’ll find the bright stars that mark Gemini. The brighter of the pair is Pollux, a yellow-orange giant star located about 34 light-years away. Nearby is Castor, which appears to be a single star but is actually a fascinating multiple-star system about 51 light-years from Earth.
By around 11 p.m., Leo the Lion is sinking toward the western horizon. Once you learn its shape, it’s easy to recognize. Look for the backward question mark known as the “Sickle,” with a triangle of stars extending behind it. The bright star Regulus sits at the base of the Sickle and marks the lion’s heart.
Leo also has an interesting connection to history. In ancient Egypt, the Sun’s movement into Leo roughly coincided with the annual flooding of the Nile River. Those floods brought life-giving water to the land, and lion imagery later became common in fountains and artwork throughout Greek and Roman cultures.
Meanwhile, Scorpius the Scorpion is beginning to rise in the southeast, offering one of the first clear signs that summer skies are on the way. By around midnight, the constellation is standing proudly in the southern sky. Its bright red star, Antares, makes it easy to identify.
If you get a clear evening this week, take a few minutes to step outside and look up. The night sky is changing quickly now, with spring gradually giving way to summer. From bright planets to rising summer constellations, there’s something new to notice almost every night.