June 2026 Sunriver Scene - Flipbook - Page 13
June 21 is the of昀椀cial begining of summer and astronomers have long celebrated the solstice.
June skies: Venus, the Milky Way and the start of summer
By Alex Yeager
June brings several exciting
celestial events centered around
Venus, which will be visible
shortly after sunset throughout
the month.
At the observatory, we also
begin turning our attention
toward the heart of the Milky
Way, revealing a rich collection
of nebulae, star clusters and
even distant galaxies.
On June 5, Venus reaches its
highest point in the evening
sky, making it an excellent opportunity to look west just after
sunset. A few days later on June
8, Venus and the Moon will appear closely nestled together in
the twilight sky. The Moon will
be a delicate crescent, creating a
beautiful pairing with brilliant
Venus, often referred to as the
“Evening Star” because of its
striking brightness.
Venus is so luminous that
it can sometimes even be seen
during the daytime without a
telescope. Using a sky-viewing
app such as Stellarium, you can
locate Venus in the daytime sky.
It may take patience and careful
searching, but under the right
conditions you may be able to
spot it.
Standing in the shade can
help reduce glare from the Sun
and improve visibility.
Venus has one final notable
appearance this month. On
June 17, the Moon will pass
directly in front of Venus in an
event known as an occultation.
This will occur shortly after 2
p.m. Because the Sun will be
close to Venus in the sky, it is
not recommended for casual
observers to attempt viewing
the event with optics on their
own. However, the observatory will safely observe this rare
event during scheduled solar
viewing programs.
June also brings the Summer
Solstice on June 21, the official
beginning of summer and the
longest day of the year. Astrono-
mers have long celebrated the
solstice, though the extended
daylight also means fewer hours
of true darkness for nighttime
observing. If you plan to spend
time under the stars this month,
be prepared for late evenings
and warm summer nights.
Whether you’re a longtime
astronomy enthusiast or simply
curious about the night sky, the
Womack Law, LLC
Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory offers opportunities to
explore the cosmos all year.
Join us for night sky viewing,
solar observing, family programs and special astronomy
events at our campus, 57245
River Road in Sunriver. Visit
www.snco.org to learn more
about upcoming observatory
programs and events.
STEPHEN HANS NUETZEL, ARCHITECT
NEW CUSTOM HOMES
REMODELS & ADDITIONS
Estate Planning, without
leaving home. Womack Law
LLC, serving Sunriver and
Central Oregon. Complimentary Consultations.
541-264-0841 or visit:
www.womacklawllc.com
SROA EXPERIENCED SUNRIVER REFERENCES
541.815.8333 Bend, Oregon
Explore nature, seek the stars!
at Sunriver Nature Center & Observatory
Summer Camps
Nature Camp
Space Camp
Ages: 6 - 10 | 260/child
Ages: 8 - 12 | $285/child
Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm
Monday - Friday, 9am - 1pm
$
Weekly camps June 15 - August 22
SCNO members receive a 20% discount.
Summer camp aftercare available from 1pm-3pm
Register or learn more at: snco.org/summer-camps
JUNE 2026 SUNRIVER SCENE
Page 13
