Derekscope – UK Astronomical highlights and a guide for binoculars, and telescope deaf owners, compiled by Derek Rowley

Friday 12th / Saturday 13th June 2026

Posted on 11 June 2026 by Derek

Look toward the eastern sky before sunrise on the mornings of Friday 12th and Saturday 13th June.
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Best viewing window ~ roughly 4am or 4:30am BST.
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Binoculars will improve the view, but both objects should be visible to the naked eye if skies are clear.
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Posted on 11 June 2026 by Derek

Look closely over three nights ~ Venus crosses the sky while Jupiter moves down, like two planets swapping places in the sky in these animated pictures.
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Posted on 9 June 2026 by Derek

Venus and Jupiter – their closest approach tonight as calculated by Casper Dyne, those two planets were 439 million miles apart!
Weird ,isn’t it!
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Posted on 9 June 2026 by Derek

The Moon close to Saturn will be visible in the eastern sky in the early morning on Wednesday 10th June from around 3am until sunrise.
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Posted on 9 June 2026 by Derek

Venus will appear brilliantly bright, while Jupiter should show a steadier golden glow nearby.
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A pair of 10×50 binoculars is usually enough to fit both planets comfortably in the same field of view, which makes the pairing especially dramatic just after sunset or before sunrise depending on your location and timing.
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Posted on 8 June 2026 by Derek

Venus and Jupiter are close tonight
– Look low in the west after sunset – two bright lights side by side.
– Venus is the brighter one ~ Jupiter sits below Venus.
– They meet at their closest tomorrow.

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Posted on 8 June 2026 by Derek

The Last Quarter Moon occurs on Monday 8th June 2026 at 11.03am BST.
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At this phase, the Moon appears half illuminated, with the left half lit as it wanes toward the New Moon.
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Posted on 6 June 2026 by Derek

Conjunction of Venus and Jupiter
– Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th June ~ noticeably close.
– Monday 8th June ~ extremely close.
– Tuesday 9th June ~ most impressive closest conjunction.
– Wednesday 10th thru Saturday 13th June ~ still close but gradually separating.
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This will be one of the best naked-eye planetary pairings of 2026
– Look 30 – 45 minutes after sunset.
– face west to northwest.
– Venus will be the brighter object than Jupiter.
– Binoculars will make the pairing especially striking.
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Posted on 4 June 2026 by Derek

Jupiter and Venus really are “crossing paths” this month, and June 2026 is the perfect time to keep looking up.
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Posted on 1 June 2026 by Derek

The Moon reaches apogee ~ the farthest point in its orbit from Earth.
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The Moon appears slightly smaller and dimmer in the sky compared to perigee.
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2026 Apogee Dates
(Moon Furthest from Earth)

2026 Perigee Dates
(Moon Closest to Earth)

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