No matter whether you’re an amateur astronomer, student, or person with a curious mind, you may be wondering which constellations may be visible and bright come June?
Continue reading to discover more about which constellations are visible in June, how these constellations may appear, their myths, locations and more.
Constellations for June (Summary)
Boötes, Lupus, Libra and Ursa Minor are the constellations best visible in June. Boötes and Ursa Minor are to the north of the celestial equator, whereas Libra and Lupus are to the south. Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, has an extent of 256 degrees and its brightest stars form the Little Dipper, one of the most well-known asterisms in the northern sky.
Ursa Minor
Since Ursa Minor, the tiny bear, is a circumpolar constellation, it is technically visible all year in the northern hemisphere.
As it spins around the north celestial pole, it is visible all night.
The Ursa Minor constellation, on the other hand, is best viewed around June.
Ursa Minor is a tiny constellation with a surface area of 256 square degrees in the night sky, ranking 56th out of 88.
Ursa Minor is notable for the Little Dipper constellation and Polaris, the North Star, which may be seen near the tip of the dipper’s handle.
Since it is the nearest star to the north celestial pole, Polaris is known as the North Star.
Polaris appears to be static in the sky as the Earth rotates and all other stars revolve around it.
However, since the Earth wobbles slightly as it rotates on its axis, Polaris will not always be the North Star.
As a result, in around 14,000 years, the north celestial pole will point away from Polaris and toward Vega.
This practice is known as a procession.
In many cultures, Ursa Minor is a well-known constellation.
The ancient Babylonians referred to it as the Wagon of Heaven.
However, in Greek mythology, this constellation was associated with two distinct tales.
It depicts Ida and her sister Adrasteia, the nymphs who raised Zeus as an infant on the Greek island of Crete.
Boötes, the Herdsman
From spring until summer, the herdsman constellation Boötes is visible in the northern hemisphere.
This constellation, on the other hand, peaks in June at latitudes ranging from 90 to -50 degrees.
Boötes is a significant constellation that covers an area of around 907 square degrees, ranking it as the 13th largest in the night sky.
The Greek astronomer Ptolemy classified 48 constellations in the second century, and the name originates from a Greek phrase meaning “ploughman, ox-driver or herdsman.”
Boötes follows the two bears, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, around the pole with his trusty dogs, Canes Venatici.
Boötes is an ancient constellation that has been recognized since Babylonian times.
The Babylonians portrayed Boötes as their deity Enlil, who was the leader of the Babylonian pantheon and a farmer’s patron.
Arctophylax, which means “protector of the Bear” in Greek, was the name given to this constellation by the ancient Greeks.
Venator Ursae, or “the Bear Hunter,” was the Roman name for it.
The name Boötes first occurred in Homer’s Odyssey, which was written about three thousand years ago.
Lupus the Wolf
Lupus, the wolf, is a constellation in the southern hemisphere of the sky.
It is best observed in June in the northern hemisphere and is visible in latitudes between 35 and -90 degrees.
Lupus is a small constellation that takes over 334 square degrees in the sky.
Among the 88 constellations in the night sky, Lupus is considered the 46th largest.
The constellations Norma, Hydra, Libra, Scorpius, Circinus, and Centaurus surround it, while it’s commonly mistaken with the rabbit constellation Lepus.
Lupus is one of the 48 constellations initially named by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy in the second century, and its Latin name means “wolf.” Lupus, although being one of the ancient constellations, is not linked to any mythology.
The stars that make up this constellation used to be part of the Centaurus constellation.
They signified an animal that the centaur had slaughtered.
The Greek astronomer Hipparchus divided the stars of Lupus from those of Centaurus in the third century BC, and no specific animal was linked with it at the time.
It was known to the ancient Greeks as Therium, a wild animal.
The beast was dubbed Bestia by the Romans.
Libra
At latitudes between 65 and -90 degrees, the scales constellation, Libra, may be seen.
Libra is a medium-sized constellation with a 538 square degree area, ranking 29th of the 88 constellations in the night sky in terms of size.
Libra is the only constellation in the zodiac that depicts an item rather than an animal or a mythological figure.
Libra is one of the 48 constellations initially catalogued in the second century by the Greek astronomer Ptolemy.
In Latin, its name means “weighing scales.”
It is most commonly shown as the scales wielded by Astrea, the Greek goddess of justice, who is symbolized by the constellation Virgo.
Libra was known to the ancient Babylonians as the Heavenly Balance.
It was thought to be part of the constellation Scorpius in ancient Greece and symbolized the scorpion’s claws.
In ancient Egypt, the three brightest stars formed a boat-shaped constellation.
It was the golden chariot of Pluto, deity of the Underworld, to the early Romans.
Throughout time, Libra became connected with the scales and is now regarded as a worldwide emblem of equilibrium, harmony, and fairness.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the constellations Boötes, Lupus, Libra, and Ursa Minor are the most visible in June.
Boötes and Ursa Minor are located to the north of the celestial equator, whereas Libra and Lupus are situated to the south.
However, the most extraordinary constellation to see in June is Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, whose diameter is 256 degrees.
Whether you’re an amateur astronomer, a student, or just someone with a curious mind, don’t miss your chance to see constellations you would otherwise miss for the rest of the year this June.
You might also like:
- Constellations For January
- Constellations For February
- Constellations For March
- Constellations For April
- Constellations For May
- Constellations For June
- Constellations For July
- Constellations For August
- Constellations For September
- Constellations For October
- Constellations For November
- Constellations For December
