Star Almanack
Alexander Ferrari Miller

ISO 2025-W25

Week begins: Monday, June 16, 2025

Notation:

Calendar

DateZodiac dayEvents
Mon, Jun 16, 2025♊ 28
C66 / NGC 5694 — Telescope 10 — Southern Spring
Rigil Kentaurus (α Cen) — Naked eye 0 — Southern Spring
Tue, Jun 17, 2025♊ 29
α Lup — Naked eye 2 — Southern Spring
α Cir — Naked eye 3 — Southern Spring
Finest NGC 85 / NGC 5746 · MCG 0-38-5 — Telescope 11 — Tropical Spring
Wed, Jun 18, 2025♊ 30
🌗 Last Quarter — 19:19:06 UTC
Izar (ε Boo) — Naked eye 2 — Northern Spring
α Aps — Binoculars 4 — Antarctic Spring
Thu, Jun 19, 2025♊ 31
α1 Lib — Binoculars 5 — Tropical Spring
Kochab (β UMi) — Naked eye 2 — Arctic Spring
Zubenelgenubi (α2 Lib) — Naked eye 3 — Tropical Spring
Fri, Jun 20, 2025♊ 32
Sat, Jun 21, 2025♋ 1
♋ Sun enters Cancer · Summer solstice · Litha — 02:42:16 UTC
β Lup — Naked eye 3 — Southern Summer
Sun, Jun 22, 2025♋ 2
Nekkar (β Boo) — Naked eye 3 — Northern Summer
C88 / NGC 5823 — Telescope 8 — Southern Summer

Weekly Solar-System Ephemeris

Snapshot: Week begins June 16, 2025, 00:00 UTC.

(-90° to +90°; defaults +45°, 21:00 LAT)

Notation:
Body☉︎☽︎☿︎♀︎♂︎♃︎♄︎
Ecliptic♊︎ 25°07′
β −0°00′		♒︎ 20°00′
β −2°41′		♋︎ 13°22′
β +2°01′		♉︎ 9°58′
β −2°39′		♌︎ 29°14′
β +1°14′		♋︎ 1°24′
β −0°09′		♈︎ 1°19′
β −2°10′
ObservingNightNaked eye -11.2☉︎Naked eye -4.3Naked eye 1.4☉︎Naked eye 1.0
Rise04:1223:0405:2602:0209:3204:4200:33
Set19:4808:4521:1415:4823:2520:1312:27

Extended targets:

Body⚳︎♅︎♆︎♇︎
Ecliptic♈︎ 8°45′
β −10°21′		♉︎ 28°57′
β −0°13′		♈︎ 2°05′
β −1°19′		♒︎ 3°26′
β −3°41′
ObservingTelescope 9.1Binoculars 5.8Telescope 7.8TelescopeTelescope 14.5
Rise01:3202:4100:3022:25
Set12:4817:3612:3207:11

β = ecliptic latitude (+ north, − south).
Rise and set are Local Apparent Time for the selected latitude.
Naked-eye observing uses the Sun’s altitude at the selected Monday observer time: Daylight (Sun ≥ −0.833°), Civil twilight (−0.833° to −6°), Nautical twilight (−6° to −12°), Astronomical twilight (−12° to −18°), and Night (below −18°).
Solar Glare identifies a body too close to the Sun when the sky-state rule does not already supersede its naked-eye classification.
The Sun’s observing status uses this same five-state sky classification.

Notation:

Planet Finder

Planet Finder — Greek / Symbols
Greek / Symbols
Planet Finder — English
English
Planet Finder — Mixed Learner
Mixed Learner

Sky Notes

Kilroy: Sky Notes · generated 2026-10-23 11:07:04 UTC

View:

ISO 2025-W25 runs from June 16 through June 22. To find Mars, first identify Leo, trace the Sickle, and locate Regulus in that pattern. Mars lies about 0.6° away in ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot; use the finder to transfer from Regulus to the planet. Saturn and Neptune are separated by about 0.8° in geocentric ecliptic longitude at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Naked eye: 🌗 Last Quarter — 19:19:06 UTC. Moderate moonlight makes timing and local sky position important for faint targets. Use Alpha Centauri, α Lup, α Cir, Izar, Kochab, Zubenelgenubi, β Lup, Nekkar as the week’s fixed-sky framework.

Alpha Centauri: Three Stars Next Door — Our nearest neighboring star system combines a bright, close pair with a faint companion on an enormous orbit.

Alpha Lup: The Bright Star of the Lupus Constellation — A luminous point in the southern sky that has guided observers for centuries.

Alpha Circini: The Bright Beacon of the Cir Constellation — A detailed look into the prominent star that guides observers through the southern skies.

Izar: The Twinkling Jewel of Boötes — An exploration of the bright, captivating binary star nestled within the constellation Boötes.

Kochab: A prominent star of the Little Dipper’s Bowl — An exploration of the characteristics and significance of the bright star Kochab in Ursa Minor.

Zubenelgenubi: The Southern Claw of the Scales — A prominent star in the constellation Libra, offering a glimpse into celestial beauty and complexity.

Beta Lup: A Bright Beacon in the Southern Sky — Exploring the characteristics and significance of the star Beta Lup in the constellation Lupus.

Nekkar: The Bright Beacon in Boötes — An enduring point of stellar reference and a key figure in celestial navigation within the constellation Boötes.

Planets: Moon: Naked eye; magnitude -11.2; direct motion; 78.8% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jun 22 05:01 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 15:40 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 01:38 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 02:46 UTC. Mercury: In solar glare; magnitude -0.5; direct motion; 74.3% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Venus: Naked eye; magnitude -4.3; direct motion; 57.1% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 22 05:01 UTC. Mars: Naked eye; magnitude 1.4; direct motion; 91.6% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Ceres: Telescope; magnitude 9.1; direct motion; 97.2% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 15:40 UTC. Jupiter: In solar glare; magnitude -1.9; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Saturn: Naked eye; magnitude 1.0; direct motion; 99.7% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 01:38 UTC. Uranus: Binoculars; magnitude 5.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Neptune: Telescope; magnitude 7.8; direct motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 02:46 UTC. Pluto: Substantial telescope; magnitude 14.5; retrograde motion; 100.0% illuminated. Below the horizon at 21:00 local apparent solar time, 45°N. Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot.

Binoculars: Trace Apus’s charted figure in the finder, then identify α Aps at its charted position. Trace Libra’s charted figure in the finder, then identify Alpha1 Lib at its charted position.

Alpha Aps: The Bright Star of the Southern Constellation — An illuminating guide for stargazers exploring the southern skies and the constellation of Apus.

Alpha1 Librae: A Bright Beacon in the Libra Constellation — An overview of Alpha1 Librae, a notable star within the Libra constellation, highlighting its characteristics and significance.

Small telescope: NGC 5694: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; MCG 0-38-5: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance; NGC 5823: consult its dedicated finder and observing story for equipment guidance

Mysteries in the constellation Hydra: A look at Caldwell's Globular Cluster C66 — Exploring the ancient, dense stellar assembly known as Caldwell 66, a fascinating globular cluster in Hydra.

Unraveling the Mystery of MCG 0-38-5 in Virgo — A closer look at a distant galaxy near the heart of the Virgo constellation, promising insights into cosmic structure.

The Open Cluster in the Constellation Circus: An Illuminating Gem — A comprehensive look at an intriguing stellar grouping nestled in the constellation Circus, highlighting its characteristics and significance.

Substantial telescope: No fixed-sky Calendar object is classified as requiring a substantial telescope this week.

Other objects listed this week: None

Mercury

Mercury: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 05:26; sets 21:14 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -0.5. The disk is 74.3% illuminated (gibbous). It is 18.4° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 1.762° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Alhena, 9.6° away. Mercury: 9.6° from Alhena in the Pathfinder.

Venus

Venus: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 32.8° below the horizon. Rises 02:02; sets 15:48 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -4.3. The disk is 57.1% illuminated (gibbous). It is 45.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 1.041° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Menkar, 11.0° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 22 05:01 UTC. Venus: 11.0° from Menkar in the Pathfinder.

Moon

Moon: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 21.8° below the horizon. Rises 23:04; sets 08:45 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -11.2. The disk is 78.8% illuminated (waning gibbous). It is 125.1° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 13.136° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Sadalsuud, 11.9° away. Conjunction with Venus in ecliptic longitude Jun 22 05:01 UTC. Conjunction with Ceres in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 15:40 UTC. Conjunction with Saturn in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 01:38 UTC. Conjunction with Neptune in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 02:46 UTC. Moon: 11.9° from Sadalsuud in the Pathfinder.

Mars

Mars: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 24.8° above the horizon. Rises 09:32; sets 23:25 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.4. The disk is 91.6% illuminated (gibbous). It is 64.1° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.557° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Regulus, 1.2° away. Mars: 1.2° from Regulus in the Pathfinder.

Jupiter

Jupiter: in solar glare at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. Rises 04:42; sets 20:13 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude -1.9. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 6.3° from the Sun, on its east side. Motion is direct at 0.228° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Elnath, 10.1° away. Jupiter: 10.1° from Elnath in the Pathfinder.

Saturn

Saturn: naked eye at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 35.5° below the horizon. Rises 00:33; sets 12:27 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 1.0. The disk is 99.7% illuminated (nearly full). It is 83.8° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.045° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 16.7° away. Neptune is 1.1° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 01:38 UTC. Saturn: 16.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Uranus

Uranus: binoculars at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 23.5° below the horizon. Rises 02:41; sets 17:36 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 5.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 26.2° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.054° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Aldebaran, 12.4° away. Uranus: 12.4° from Aldebaran in the Pathfinder.

Neptune

Neptune: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 34.7° below the horizon. Rises 00:30; sets 12:32 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 7.8. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 83.0° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.010° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Fumalsamakah, 16.7° away. Saturn is 1.1° away at the snapshot. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 02:46 UTC. Neptune: 16.7° from Fumalsamakah in the Pathfinder.

Ceres

Ceres: telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 44.4° below the horizon. Rises 01:32; sets 12:48 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 9.1. The disk is 97.2% illuminated (gibbous). It is 76.6° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is direct at 0.252° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Diphda, 11.8° away. Conjunction with Moon in ecliptic longitude Jun 19 15:40 UTC. Ceres: 11.8° from Diphda in the Pathfinder.

Pluto

Pluto: substantial telescope at the Monday 00:00 UTC snapshot. At 45°N and 21:00 local apparent solar time, it is 14.0° below the horizon. Rises 22:25; sets 07:11 (45°N, local apparent solar time). Visual magnitude 14.5. The disk is 100.0% illuminated (nearly full). It is 141.5° from the Sun, on its west side. Motion is retrograde at 0.017° per day in ecliptic longitude at the snapshot. Position reference: Dabih, 8.3° away. Pluto: 8.3° from Dabih in the Pathfinder.