SkyCaramba

Jupiter is out of sight this week. Mercury passes through Gemini. Mars reaches the heart of Leo. Venus gets a visit from the moon. And the June solstice is coming. Most of us know that means midnight sun from far northern locations. However, we don't often think about midnight twilight from places not so far north.

Mercury and Jupiter pass each other in the evening. Mars continues moving toward Regulus. Venus is coming off its best morning appearance. And Mira is coming into magnified views for northern sky watchers. This star is called wonderful for many reasons, one of which is it seems to vanish and reappear.

Jupiter is almost at the feet of Gemini. Mercury moves to the evening. Venus shines bright from the Pisces linkage. A mostly daytime meteor shower. And Mars approaches the heart of Leo. There's a lot more to that star, Regulus, than meets the naked eye.

Jupiter's long slow goodbye from the evening sky continues. Mars is still prominent. Venus and Saturn look nice at dawn. Mercury approaches its semi-circle phase. But for some reason, we don't see it that way exactly when we should. And Mars has its northern solstice.

Jupiter and Mars climb among the evening stars. Mercury sinks into the sunrise. And can you see stars in the daytime from the bottom of a smokestack or deep well? Some serious studies have been done.

The morning planets are drifting apart. The evening planets climb toward their next destinations. The moon hides Antares. And there's a monster of a constellation several solar system objects pass through, yet we don't think of it as part of the zodiac.

Mars in the Beehive. The moon over Zavijava. A morning planet grouping includes two binocular solar system objects. And planetoid and asteroid are two words that can mean that same thing. When the first such objects were discovered, astronomers weren't sure what to call them. They had characteristics of planets and asteroids.

The moon moves into the evening sky. There's a record for seeing the youngest moon, but nobody seems to make a contest out of seeing the oldest moon.

Vesta is at opposition.

A cluster of planets adorns the morning sky close to the horizon.

Mars makes a beeline for the beehive.

Virgo has been known by a variety of names.

Mercury's at greatest elongation.

And hats off--or hair's off--for the only constellation linked to a real person.

Two planets are at aphelion this week. Their aphelion and perihelion distances reveal just how elliptical their orbits are.