See Red! Mars Glows Bright This Week

Here's the thing about astronomy writing - it can get a bit…breathless. You know the type - everything is "spectacular!" and "once-in-a-lifetime!" when honestly, half of it is just Tuesday night in space. (Side note: The universe is genuinely amazing without us overselling every single planetary alignment like it's the Super Bowl of space.)

"The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff," Carl Sagan said. And that's profound enough without adding exclamation points to everything.

Here's the truth about this week: The summer solstice has passed, and frankly, the sky looks pretty much the same as it did last week. Venus is still doing her morning thing, Mars is still hanging out in Leo, and Saturn is still there being Saturn. But you know what? That consistency is actually kind of beautiful. These aren't flash-in-the-pan celestial events - they're the reliable, ongoing cosmic rhythms that have been keeping humans company for millennia.

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Sometimes the best stargazing happens when you stop waiting for something "spectacular" and just... look up.

1. Venus: Still There, Still Brilliant (And Scorchingly Hot)

Venus continues her role as the Morning Star, and honestly, she's been doing this exact same thing for weeks now. She's not suddenly more exciting than she was last week, but here's the thing - she doesn't need to be. Venus is reliably, consistently gorgeous, rising 2-3 hours before sunrise and outshining everything else in the pre-dawn sky.

Speaking of Venus, today June 23 marks the birthday of Nicholas Shackleton, the geologist whose atmospheric research helped us better understand how different gases behave in planetary environments - knowledge that extends far beyond Earth to worlds like our brilliant morning companion.

Venus's atmosphere is 96.5% carbon dioxide, creating what scientists call a runaway greenhouse effect. This means the planet traps heat from the sun so effectively that surface temperatures reach 900 degrees Fahrenheit. So while Venus appears as this beautiful, serene beacon in our morning sky, she's actually a showcase of extreme planetary physics.

It's a fascinating reminder that sometimes the most beautiful things in the night sky are the most inhospitable up close.

When to Watch:

• Pre-dawn, about 2–3 hours before sunrise | low on the eastern horizon

2. The Moon and Saturn: A Continuing Conversation (June 23-24)

The waning crescent moon continues its monthly dance with Saturn, and yes, they'll be relatively close on June 23 and 24. Saturn's rings are still tilted beautifully for telescope viewing. The moon will look like a thin crescent near Saturn in Aquarius. It's pretty, peaceful, and exactly the kind of thing you might enjoy if you happen to be awake anyway.

When to Watch:

• Pre-dawn, about 1-2 hours before sunrise | eastern sky in Aquarius

3. Mars in Leo: The Guest Who's Settled In

Mars is still in Leo, still looking distinctly red among the lion's stars, still visible in the early evening. The thing about Mars in Leo is that it's actually quite beautiful if you take the time to notice - that color contrast, the way the red planet fits into the constellation's pattern. It's not flashy, but it's genuine.

When to Watch:

• Early evening | western sky

4. The Milky Way Core: Still Rising, Still Gorgeous

The Milky Way core continues its seasonal appearance in the southeast, and if you have dark skies, it continues to be genuinely breathtaking. There's something to be said for the Milky Way's reliability. City lights permitting, it's there, night after night, this river of ancient light stretching across the sky. No special dates to remember, no precise timing required.

When to Watch:

• Late evening through dawn, weather permitting | Southeast

Here's what I love about late June astronomy - it teaches you the universe doesn't operate on our need for constant novelty. The same Venus that dazzled ancient navigators is the one lighting up your morning sky. The same Saturn that fascinated Galileo is the one you can see through your backyard telescope.

There's profound beauty in that continuity. You don't need a rare eclipse or planetary alignment to justify looking up. Sometimes the best stargazing happens on the most ordinary nights, when you stop waiting for something "special" and start appreciating what's always been there.

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