The Cotswold Sky Diary

Summer Solstice: Wednesday 21st June 15.58 hours BST

Mercury: Exceptionally difficult to observe in May, but will make an appearance from mid-June onwards.

Venus: Beautiful evening planet observable at dusk in the west. Notice its closeness to the Moon on 23rd May and 21st June respectively. Sadly loses some of its brilliance through the month of June.

Mars: Appears to follow Venus during the two months of early summer and is fading rapidly in brightness.

Jupiter: Now a morning planet but will not be easily observed until June. Note its position during the early hours on 14th June when it appears in the east just above a crescent shaped Moon.

Saturn: Poorly positioned during the early morning rise during both months due to the relatively shorter dark evenings.

Stay Safe – John Harris