June 30, 2026: The Full Strawberry Moon remains a bright nighttime sight while Mars moves away from the Pleiades, Saturn climbs higher in the eastern morning sky, and Venus approaches Regulus before their upcoming conjunction.
by Jeffrey L. Hunt
Chicago, Illinois: Sunrise, 5:19 a.m. CDT; Sunset, 8:30 p.m. CDT. Times are calculated by the US Naval Observatory’s MICA computer program. Check local sources for sunrise and sunset times.
Venus as an Evening Star
Moon, Planets
The Full Strawberry Moon remains a prominent nighttime sight while Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Venus, and Jupiter provide additional observing opportunities. Before sunrise, Mars continues eastward after its conjunction with the Pleiades star cluster, while Saturn is higher in the eastern sky. After sunset, Venus dominates the western sky as Jupiter slips deeper into bright evening twilight.
Morning Moon
One hour before sunrise, the Full Strawberry Moon is low in the southwest. After the moon was opposite the sun yesterday before moonrise across North America, it appeared farther westward during the night. It sets at approximately sunrise.
Saturn
Farther eastward, golden Saturn is 35° above the east-southeast horizon. It slowly creeps eastward in front of Pisces’ dim stars, further diminished by the brightness of mid-twilight. The rings are easier to see through a telescope, now slightly tilted. Better views are ahead when the planet is higher in the sky before morning light begins.
Mars
Mars, dimmer than expected, is nearly 15° above the east-northeast horizon. It marches eastward along the ecliptic — the plane of the solar system — in front of Taurus one day after its conjunction with the Pleiades star cluster.
Binocular View
Use a binocular to see it with the star cluster, especially with the Full Moon’s light spread across the sky. After spotting both celestial wonders, shift the binocular slightly so that the stellar bundle is toward the top of the field of view. Uranus is now in the field. At this level of morning twilight, moonlight, and the sky’s clarity, the Tilted World might not be visible. To attempt to locate it, look for the stars 37 and 39 Tauri (37 Tau, 39 Tau) toward the lower left edge of the field. Star 37 is about the same brightness as the dimmer stars in the star cluster. Star 39 is about 25% of Star 37’s brightness and approximately the same brightness as aquamarine Uranus. If Star 39 is visible, then Uranus can likely be seen as well.
Aldebaran is entering the morning sky after its solar conjunction. Taurus’ bright star is nearly 5° above the east-northeast horizon and 10.4° to Mars’ lower left. It is higher each morning as Mars marches eastward. The Mars-Aldebaran conjunction occurs on July 13. Two mornings earlier, the moon joins Mars, the Pleiades, and Aldebaran.
Venus, Jupiter, Regulus
After sunset, brilliant Venus shines brightly from the western sky. At 45 minutes after sundown, the Evening Star is over 15° above the western horizon. It steps eastward in front of Leo, 10° to Regulus’ lower right, the Lion’s brightest star. Watch Venus close the gap to Regulus and pass the star next month.
Bright Jupiter, disappearing into bright evening twilight, is about 5° above the west-northwest horizon and 20° to Venus’ lower right. The Jovian Giant slowly rambles eastward in front of Cancer.
Evening Moon
While still appearing Full to the unaided eye, the moon rises about an hour after sunset, and an hour later it is less than 10° above the southeast horizon. It appears farther westward during the night, reaching the southwestern sky during morning twilight.
Look for the Full Strawberry Moon during the nighttime hours while tracking Mars after its conjunction with the Pleiades. Find Saturn higher in the eastern sky before sunrise, and watch Venus continue toward Regulus while Jupiter fades into bright evening twilight.
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