2025, June 17-20: Saturn and Morning Moon

June 17-20, 2025: The morning Moon approaches Saturn in the southeastern sky.

2022, June 18: The moon (overexposed) and Saturn.
Photo Caption – 2022, June 18: The moon (overexposed) and Saturn.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

Morning Moon and Saturn

The morning moon approaches Saturn in the southeastern sky during morning twilight. An hour before sunrise, find the Ringed Wonder about 30° up in the southeastern sky, one-third of the way from the horizon to overhead.  Because of the planet’s distance from Earth, it is not bright like Venus or Jupiter.  Presently, it is dimmer than average from the orientation of its rings that are tilted away from Earth.  The icy particles are reflecting light away from our view.

Saturn gently moves eastward in front of Pisces dim stars.  Deneb Kaitos, Cetus’ tail, is over 10° above the southeast horizon and nearly 20° below Saturn.  Fomalhaut, the mouth of the Southern Fish, is about 15° above the southeast horizon.

Neptune not Visible, Yet

This contrast enhanced color picture of Neptune was acquired by Voyager 2 at a range of 14.8 million kilometers (9.2 million miles) on August 14, 1989. (NASA photo)
Photo Caption – This contrast enhanced color picture of Neptune was acquired by Voyager 2 at a range of 14.8 million kilometers (9.2 million miles) on August 14, 1989. (NASA photo)

Neptune is in Saturn’s area and some writers are claiming it can be seen.  At mid-twilight, an hour before sunrise, the sky is too bright to see the solar system’s most distant planet. It is visible later during the summer before morning twilight begins. At that time, Saturn is a guide to Neptune.  Looking for the planet until then is a fruitless endeavor.

Venus is the brilliant “star” in the eastern sky, 40° to Saturn’s lower left.

June 17-20 Highlights

Saturn and Moon, June 17-20, 2025
Chart Caption – 2025, June 17-20: The morning moon approaches and passes Saturn in the southeastern sky.

During June 17-20, the waning moon approaches and passes Saturn.  Here’s what to see:

  • June 17: The gibbous moon, 65% illuminated, is over 30° up in the south-southeast, nearly 25° to Saturn’s right.  The lunar orb is nearly 20° to Fomalhaut’s upper left.
  • June 18: The waning moon, 55% illuminated, is over 30° above the southeast horizon and 9.4° to Saturn’s upper right.  The moon is at the Last Quarter phase at 2:19 p.m. Central Time, after it sets in the Americas.
  • June 19: The thick crescent moon, 43% illuminated, is over 30° above the south-southeast horizon.  It is 5.3° to Saturn’s upper left.
  • June 20: The crescent moon, 32% illuminated, is less than 30° above the south-southeast horizon and nearly 20° to Saturn’s lower left.  It is less than halfway to Venus, almost 25° to the lower left. Even at this phase the moon casts shadows.  During the next few mornings, look for earthshine on the moon as it approaches Venus.

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