2025, June 2: First Quarter Moon, Leo

June 2, 2025: The First Quarter Moon appears with Leo in the west-southwest.  Mars approaches Regulus.

Venus, Moon, and Mars, July 14, 2020.
2020, July 14: Venus, Moon, and Mars span nearly 62° in the eastern morning sky.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:18 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:20 p.m. CDT.  Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program.

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Moon and Leo

Mars, Moon, Leo, June 2, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, June 2: Mars, First Quarter moon, and Leo are in the west-southwest after sunset.

The moon is at its evening half-full or First Quarter phase at 10:41p.m. Central Time.  One hour after sunset, the moon is less than halfway up in the sky, from the horizon to overhead.  It is in front of Leo and 11.8° to Regulus’ upper left, the Lion’s brightest star.

Explore the Moon’s Terminator

Frist Quarter Moon
Image Caption – 2025, June 2: The First Quarter Moon (NASA photo)

Through a binocular or small telescope, look along the terminator, the division between daylight and darkness.  The sun is rising, casting long shadows from mountains and craters’ rims.  Find two craters over halfway down the line that resemble a footprint or exclamation mark.  The top one is Hipparchus and the lower is Albategnius.  The former is about 85 miles across, while the latter is over 80 miles in diameter.  Each has smaller craters on the rim and inside, from smaller bodies that impacted after the larger craters formed. Notice the difference in their appearance in a night or so when the sunlight is more direct and the area is without the contrast of the rising sun.

In this moonlight, use a binocular to trace the Lion’s silhouette.  The animal faces westward, tilted toward the horizon at this season. A half dozen stars, known as the Sickle of Leo, outlines the head. A triangle to the east marks the haunches and tail, dotted by Denebola.

Mars is approaching Regulus.  Marching eastward in front of the Lion, the Red Planet is 8.0° to Regulus’ lower right. A Mars-Regulus conjunction occurs on the 17th.  Tonight, Mars, Regulus, and the moon span nearly 20°.

Jupiter and Mercury

Jupiter
Image Caption – A Hubble Space Telescope view of Jupiter (NASA photo)

Jupiter and Mercury are east of the sun, meaning they set after sunset.  Mercury is moving into the evening sky, setting 27 minutes after the sun, while the Jovian Giant is slipping into brighter twilight.  It sets about 45 minutes after Mercury.  It can be seen less than 5° above the west-northwest horizon at 45 minutes after nightfall.  A clear, unobstructed horizon is needed and a binocular helps with the view.

Morning Star

Venus, Saturn, and Hamal, June 2, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, June 2: Venus, Saturn, and Hamal are in the eastern sky before sunrise.

Before sunrise, brilliant Venus gleams in the eastern sky. An hour before daybreak, the Morning Star is over 10° above the horizon.  It steps eastward, opening a wider gap to Saturn, over 25° to the upper right, and moving closer to the star Hamal, over 15° to its upper left.  Venus passes Hamal in a very wide conjunction on the 14th.

After the planet-palooza earlier this year, only three bright planets are easily visible during nighttime hours. Look for the First Quarter moon tonight and explore its terminator for impact craters and mountains.

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