A FREE SHOW NIGHTLY!
by Jim Ulik
What to look for in the Caribbean sky in June 2025
Reimagine a multiple night passage where bioluminescent waves are breaking against a starlit sky. I realized it wasn’t just about the destination but also experiencing the moment. I was navigating waters that were frequented by seafarers for centuries. The Sun, stars and planets determined their course. Periodic technological advances in celestial observations aided in more accurate navigation. There is no doubt that sailing and navigation have been interconnected with astronomy for generations. It isn’t just the science of space or the movement of the stars but art and literature connected these endeavors throughout history. They are all part of the romance of the high seas.
Sunday, June 01
The amount of the Sun’s rays reflected off the clouds of Venus makes this planet the brightest object in the morning sky. Its position will be close to true east at 0500 if you happen to be in Arecibo, PR or 0518 in Bridgetown, Barbados.
June’s first close approach between the Moon and Mars occurs tonight. Off the dark side of the crescent Moon is the celestial navigation star number 26, Regulus, the heart of the constellation Leo. Its number given is based upon its location in the sky.
Monday, June 02
The Moon will rise just after 12 noon after reaching first quarter. During a first or third quarter phase the tidal effects are reduced compared to a full or new Moon. The Sun’s gravitational pull is added to the Moon’s when both bodies are in line. The Moon is also moving away from Earth over the next few days, lowering its influence on tides.
Friday, June 06
The Moon will slide by Virgo and Spica over the next few days. Spica is actually a double star and ranked the 15th brightest star in the sky. It is assigned the number 33 in the Nautical Almanac, the standard resource for marine celestial navigation for the U.S. Navy. Celestial navigation was reinstated by the Navy in 2016 as a backup to GPS and other electronic navigation systems.
Saturday, June 07
As mentioned previously the Moon was moving away from Earth. Today it has reached its greatest distance from Earth and will begin to gradually orbit closer.
Tuesday, June 10
The Moon has escaped the celestial scorpion’s claws and is closing in on Antares, the heart of Scorpius. It will continue getting closer to the red giant star until they both set around 0500. Antares is sometimes mistaken as Mars because of its red color. Its name “Ant-Ares” means “like Mars” or rival to Ares the Greek god of war. In case you were wondering, Antares is listed number 42 in the Nautical Almanac.
Today marks the peak of the Daytime Arietids meteor shower. A few of these meteors may enter the atmosphere at an oblique angle, producing long-lived meteors that traverse a wide area of the sky. The best time for viewing would be before sunrise. Don’t discount seeing some during the day. Do not look towards the Sun. The best area to spot some will be at least 90 degrees away. The shower is active May 12 – June 24 producing up to 30 meteors per hour.
Wednesday, June 11
The Moon is now on the opposite side of Earth as the Sun. This Full Moon will appear slightly larger than normal. It is not a supermoon, however, because it is four days past its closest approach to Earth.
Monday, June 16
Mars is near the shoulder of Leo. It will be about one degree right or north of Regulus. The planet and star will appear equally bright. Mars is of course red in color while even though Regulus is the heart of the lion it actually appears blue. They will be in close proximity for the next three days.
Thursday, June 19
The Moon is in last quarter. Just after midnight, 0000h, the Moon and Saturn will rise due east in the fish constellation Pisces. Saturn is about four degrees off the dark side of the Moon. Neptune is also holding its position in the water constellation between the Moon and Saturn.
Friday, June 20
The longest day in the northern hemisphere has finally arrived. Adjust your solar panels accordingly. The Sun will hang over 23.44 degrees north latitude for a couple days before it starts to move back toward the equator.
Sunday, June 22
Rising early is required if you want to see the close approach between Venus and the thin crescent Moon. The pair will be visible in the dawn sky for about 2 hours until dawn.
Wednesday, June 25
The Moon is located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere. This could be a good morning to find the Andromeda Galaxy in the eastern sky north and west of Venus. The outer stars and dust of the Andromeda and Milky Way Galaxies are already beginning to merge.
Friday, June 27
In the northern sky above the Big and Little Dipper is the radiant source of the June Bootids meteor shower. This is a variable shower that can produce up to 100 meteors per hour. The June Bootids are active June 21 – July 01. The best time for viewing is between 2000h – 2300h.
Sunday, June 29
The Moon and Mars are making their second close approach this month in the western sky. Mars can be found less than two minutes off the dark side of the Moon. Ten degrees above the horizon is Mercury near the Beehive Cluster.
In the News
Space begins 100 kilometers or 62 miles above the Earth’s surface. Objects, both natural and artificial, that populate space and the universe are still a part of navigation at sea. The constellation of GPS satellites orbit in space, transmitting radio signals to receivers. Solar flares can negatively affect those signals. So can the predisposition of humans to hack or disrupt the signals. Digital charts can have inaccuracies so one still has to pay attention to course and headings. I have seen more than one boat get holed running over a reef. Some caught the error just before impact. At least stars are reliable. They remain in place and can’t be hacked. A change is in the works so have some boat bucks ready. Quantum navigation is on the horizon.
*All times are given as Atlantic Standard Time (AST) unless otherwise noted.