JUNE 2025
When the Sky Comes Alive Again.
June is the month when the night sky feels full again.
In the north, the core of the Milky Way now rises at a reasonable hour — a welcome change after months of chasing faint, distant galaxies through long, quiet nights. Globular clusters are high overhead, and the first bright nebulae of summer begin to show their forms.
In the south, the Milky Way stretches across the sky like a river of light. The variety is astonishing — dark nebulae, reflection clouds, emission structures, and sweeping dust lanes all share the same frame.
This is the season of contrast — quiet versus bold, delicate versus dramatic, galaxies fading into memory as the inner life of our own galaxy takes center stage.
June 2025 Deep-Sky Targets
June brings one of the most varied night skies of the year — a rich mix of emission nebulae, dust clouds, and star clusters from both hemispheres. Galaxy season is behind us now, and in its place comes texture, colour, and complexity.
There’s something here for every kind of astrophotographer — whether you’re working with a wide-field lens, a dedicated telescope, or a smart imaging system. From bold icons to quiet wonders, each target has something special to offer.
Below, you’ll find a visual introduction and a few highlights for each object.
For the full breakdown — including field of view suggestions, filter advice, and exposure tips — download this month’s Cosmic Astrophotography Planner (CAP) as a free PDF using the button below.
NGC 6820 – Carved by Starlight
Constellation: Vulpecula | Distance: ~6,000 light-years | Type: Emission nebula | Apparent Magnitude: ~7.0 (diffuse)
NGC 6820 is a lesser-known gem nestled in the Milky Way plane, often overshadowed by brighter neighbors — but it’s a rewarding target for those who take the time. The nebula surrounds the open cluster NGC 6823 and features dramatic dark formations sculpted by stellar radiation, with intricate filaments of dust and gas layered throughout.
This is an active star-forming region shaped by winds and UV light from young, massive stars — and the resulting structure feels almost in motion, even in still images.
Best for: Narrowband imaging using Hα, OIII, and SII filters, or dual-band filters for one-shot color cameras. Broadband is also possible under dark skies. The structure benefits from long integration times — 6+ hours is recommended. Ideal field of view: 1.5°–2°.
NGC 6946 – The Fireworks Galaxy
Constellation: Cepheus | Distance: ~22 million light-years | Size: ~11.5′ × 9.8′ | Apparent Magnitude: 9.6
NGC 6946 is a rare crossover — a distant spiral galaxy viewed through the dusty edge of our own. Its warm tones aren’t just aesthetic; they’re shaped by galactic extinction or reddening, as foreground dust shifts the colour balance toward red.
But its nickname comes from what happens inside: with ten recorded supernovae in the last century, NGC 6946 has one of the highest known supernova rates, driven by intense star formation in its arms.
Photographically, it’s a subtle target — best captured under dark skies with long exposures. Look for the soft yellow core, scattered H-alpha regions, and the faint, extended halo that encircles the disk.
Best for: Broadband imaging with medium to long focal lengths. Use RGB or LRGB filters to preserve natural colour balance. This is a rewarding target for mono or OSC setups.
Telescope.live image data edited by Cosmic Captures
M8 & M20 – The Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae
Constellation: Sagittarius | Distance: ~4,100 light-years | Size: ~3° × 2° | Apparent Magnitude: ~5.0 (combined, diffuse)
The Lagoon (M8) and Trifid (M20) Nebulae are two of the most iconic targets in the southern sky — bright, colourful, and rich with structure. They lie near the heart of the Milky Way, surrounded by glowing gas, dark dust, and newborn stars.
M8 is a sprawling H II region with deep dust lanes and an open cluster at its core. M20 is smaller but striking, combining emission, reflection, and dark nebula in a rare three-part blend. Together, they form one of the most photogenic pairings in the night sky.
Above the Lagoon, a faint arc of OIII emission stretches between M8 and M20 — a rarely captured feature that only reveals itself with careful framing and long integration. In this image, I combined over 43 hours of data to bring this structure into view.
Best for: DSLR and mirrorless cameras with 85–135mm lenses, or longer focal lengths for close detail. For mono imaging, Hα and OIII are both essential. One-shot colour cameras can use dual narrowband filters, but capturing the OIII arc may require 10+ hours of OIII integration under dark skies.
M16 – The Eagle Nebula
Constellation: Serpens | Distance: ~7,000 light-years | Size: ~70′ × 55′ | Apparent Magnitude: ~6.4
Best known for the Pillars of Creation, M16 is a massive star-forming region filled with sculpted hydrogen clouds, young clusters, and intricate structure. The famous pillars are dense columns of gas and dust, slowly being eroded by the intense radiation of nearby stars — a visual representation of creation and destruction in balance.
The nebula shows strong Hα signal, moderate OIII especially around the core, and weaker but structured SII — making it a rewarding target for narrowband imaging with mono setups. One-shot color cameras can do well here too, especially with dual Hα/OIII filters.
Best for: Narrowband imaging using Hα, OIII, and SII filters, or dual-band filters for OSC cameras. Broadband is also possible, but it benefits from dark skies. Ideal field of view: 1°–1.5°.
Telescope.live image data edited by Cosmic Captures
NGC 6357 & NGC 6334 – War and Peace & the Cat’s Paw
Constellation: Scorpius | Distance: ~5,500 light-years | Size: ~1.5° combined | Apparent Magnitude: ~7.0 (diffuse)
This dramatic duo sits deep in the southern Milky Way, surrounded by rich star fields and glowing clouds of gas. Both are active star-forming regions, shaped by massive young stars and intense radiation.
NGC 6357, sometimes called the War and Peace Nebula, features carved structures and high-contrast filaments — a classic narrowband target with strong Hα and SII signal, and good OIII as well.
Just next to it lies NGC 6334, better known as the Cat’s Paw Nebula.
And it really does look like one — with three glowing pads reaching into space. But here’s the twist: most cats have fourtoes on their hind paws. So what gives?
This is a fun example of astronomical pareidolia — our brain’s tendency to find familiar shapes in chaotic forms. In this case, only three lobes of the nebula are bright in Hα, and that’s what most framings capture. It’s a cosmic cartoon cat — and just like most cartoon characters, it gets away with having fewer fingers.
Best for: Narrowband imaging with mono setups or dual Hα/OIII filters for OSC cameras. Try experimenting with color palettes to highlight the different emission layers. Ideal field of view: 1.5°–2°.
Telescope.live image data edited by Cosmic Captures
IC 4592 – The Blue Horsehead
Constellation: Scorpius | Distance: ~400 light-years | Size: ~3° × 2° | Apparent Magnitude: ~4.8 (diffuse)
IC 4592 is a serene reflection nebula nestled near the brighter and more famous Rho Ophiuchi region. It glows soft blue as starlight scatters off fine interstellar dust — and with a little imagination, the shape resembles a horse’s head… or maybe a greyhound’s.
This is another great example of astronomical pareidolia, and a beautiful contrast to the more aggressive emission regions nearby.
The nebula is subtle but expansive, making it a rewarding challenge for wide-field setups.
Best for: DSLR or mirrorless cameras with full-frame sensors and lenses between 85–135mm. Long exposures under dark skies (at least 3–5 hours) are recommended to bring out the soft gradients. Process carefully to preserve natural star colours and avoid crushing faint detail.
Corona Australis Molecular Cloud
Constellation: Corona Australis | Distance: ~470 light-years | Size: ~2.5° × 1.5° | Apparent Magnitude: ~7.0 (diffuse)
The Corona Australis Molecular Cloud is a dark, intricate complex of dust weaving through a bright starfield, framed by reflection nebulae and even a globular cluster in the same wide field. Its delicate filaments and stark central shape once reminded me of something eerie — a plague doctor’s mask — though that’s not an official name. Just one of those shapes that sticks with you once you see it.
But what makes this target unforgettable isn’t just its visual drama — it’s the contrast. Captured wide, this cloud seems to stand in quiet defiance against the bright, colorful Milky Way behind it.
It’s a target that invites emotion, not just data — a reminder that not all beauty has to shout to be seen.
Best for: Wide-field setups with full-frame sensors and 50–135mm lenses. Look for dark skies and soft processing to preserve the subtle contrasts. This was one of my favorite captures from the Atacama Desert.
The main Moon Phases in June 2025
Planning your imaging sessions? The Moon plays a massive role in what we can capture.
Here’s what’s happening this month:
First Quarter
June 3
Deep-sky imaging is best after midnight.
Also great for capturing lunar surface details with strong shadows along the terminator.
Full Moon
June 11
The Full Moon in June 2025, is known as the Strawberry Moon.
Last Quarter
June 18
Deep-sky imaging is best in the first half of the night before the Moon rises in the early morning hours.
New Moon
June 25
The darkest skies of the month arrive with the New Moon, ideal for deep-sky imaging.
June 2025 MAP
(Moonlight Astrophotography Planner)
Each month, the MAP — or Moonlight Astrophotography Planner — helps you choose the best nights for capturing galaxies, nebulae, and nightscapes. Whether you’re shooting broadband or narrowband, MAP gives you clear guidance based on the Moon phase, so you can match your imaging plans to the sky conditions.
You can download this month’s MAP as a free PDF using the button below. It’s updated monthly to help you make the most of your imaging time, no matter your style or setup.
Meteor Shower of the Month June – Daytime Arietids
The Daytime Arietids peak around June 7 and are one of the strongest daytime meteor showers of the year, but also one of the most elusive.
These meteors are fast, bright, and originate from debris likely left behind by Comet 96P/Machholz. But because their radiant rises shortly before the Sun, most of the activity is hidden in daylight. Only the Earth-skimming meteors that graze the upper atmosphere can sometimes be seen just before sunrise.
Visual observation is extremely difficult, but if you’re already out capturing the Milky Way in the early hours, keep one eye on the horizon. You might catch a streak of light that feels more like a surprise than a spectacle.
Noctilucent Clouds – A Silver Lining at the Edge of Night
If you live at higher latitudes, June brings a different kind of wonder — one that shimmers just above the horizon.
Noctilucent clouds form high in the atmosphere, over 80 kilometres up, where ice crystals catch the Sun’s rays long after it has set. They glow electric blue and silver — delicate, shifting, and completely unique to this time of year.
They’re not visible from everywhere, but if you’re in the right place and looking just after sunset or before sunrise, you might spot them dancing at the edge of twilight.
Last year, I made a video entirely about these clouds — I’ll link it below if you’re curious.
Capturing Twilight's Hidden Glow: Noctilucent Clouds
Nightscape Opportunities
With galaxy season winding down, the sky feels fuller again — layered, textured, and alive with contrast.
In the northern hemisphere, the Milky Way core rises earlier each night, becoming easier to capture with every passing week. In the southern hemisphere, the arc now spans from horizon to horizon — a rich canvas of detail, color, and motion.
This is an ideal time to scout new locations, plan panoramas, or capture a full Milky Way arch. And remember — a striking foreground can transform a nightscape into something truly memorable.
For the clearest skies and best timing, download the Moonlight Astrophotography Planner (MAP) — it’s free and updated monthly with broadband and narrowband visibility windows.
Milky Way Panorama - Shot with an iPhone