June 2025: Morning Star Venus moves into brighter starfields as its steps eastward against the starry background.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Morning Star Venus at Greatest Elongation
Venus continues to shine brightly in the eastern sky before sunrise. On June 1st it rises over two hours before the sun, but still after the beginning of morning twilight. The planet’s rising time interval before sunrise mirrors the increasing length of morning twilight. Venus’ rising time interval before sunrise continues to increase, gaining over 30 minutes of rising time during June. From this Venus appears higher in the eastern sky during morning twilight.
One hour before sunrise on June 1st, the planet stands over 10° above the east horizon. Its low altitude – height above the horizon – is from a shallow angle the ecliptic – the plane of the solar system – makes with the eastern horizon. This morning it is at greatest elongation – or its maximum angle – from the sun at 45.9°. As such, the planet does not rise early enough or late enough to be seen at midnight. It rises or sets a few hours before sunrise or after sunset. Unlike, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, it is not visible at midnight and never opposite the sun.
Finally, on June 9th and until October 24th, it rises before the beginning of morning twilight. The next morning, Venus steps across the border into Cetus for only one morning.
Toward Brighter Starfields
On June 11th, Venus moves across the Aries border, about 13° to the lower right of Hamal, the constellation’s brightest star, though it is about the brightness of the Big Dipper’s stars. Three mornings later, Venus passes 12.6° to the lower right of the star in a wide conjunction.
Moon Visits Venus
An hour before sunrise on the 22nd, Venus is nearly 15° above the horizon, 6.8° to the lower right of the 13% illuminated moon.
Jupiter at Solar Conjunction – Leading up to a Venus Conjunction
On the 24th, Jupiter is at its solar conjunction. The Venus-Jupiter conjunction occurs August 12th. Watch Jupiter emerge from bright morning twilight and then observe Venus over take it.
Venus Moves in front of Taurus
On the 28th, Venus’ moves into Taurus, 9.8° to the lower right of Alcyone, the Pleiades brightest star.
The month ends with Venus over 15° above the eastern horizon. It is 8.3° to the Pleiades’ lower right and 15.0° to Aldebaran’s upper right. Use a binocular to see the star and the Hyades star cluster.
Watch Venus appear higher in the sky and move into brighter starfields.
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