Planets visible to the naked eye

Here’s a look at the planets that can be seen with the naked eye in the Montréal area during the month of June. Follow these guidelines to find out where and when to look for them.

June will offer an impressive planetary display:

• Evening: A tight grouping of Venus, Jupiter and Mercury, joined by the Moon around June 16–17, and likely the most spectacular sight of the month.
• Morning: A sky centred on the Saturn–Neptune pair, with Mars and Uranus gradually adding to the scene.

Planet visibility from the Montréal area in June 2026

Mercury – a brief but beautiful evening apparition (mag ≈ +0.4)

Visible at dusk early in the month, very low in the western sky. June 10 to 15 marks the best observing period, with its greatest elongation on June 15 and an altitude of about 16 degrees at sunset. Afterward, Mercury quickly drops back toward the horizon. On June 16 and 17, it joins a remarkable grouping with the Moon, Venus and Jupiter.

Venus – the beacon of the evening sky (mag ≈ −4.0)

Still brilliant in the early evening, Venus dominates the western horizon after sunset. It forms a close pair with Jupiter early in the month (June 9), then becomes part of a spectacular alignment with the Moon and Mercury around June 16–17. On June 17, it is even occulted by the Moon—a rare phenomenon visible in broad daylight with a telescope or binoculars.

Jupiter – nearing the end of its apparition (mag ≈ −2.0)

Still clearly visible at dusk early in the month, Jupiter accompanies Venus in the west. It gradually sinks toward the horizon and becomes difficult to observe after June 22. Before disappearing from view, it takes part in several photogenic close approaches with Venus and the Moon, particularly around June 16–17.

Mars – faint but increasingly prominent at dawn (mag ≈ +1.2)

Mars remains low in the east before sunrise but gradually becomes more prominent. It joins the Moon in the morning sky on June 12 and draws close to Uranus on June 27.

Saturn and Neptune – a well-established late-night pair (Saturn mag ≈ +0.9; Neptune mag ≈ +7.8)

Saturn is easy to spot before dawn in the east. Neptune remains nearby throughout the month, slightly offset from Saturn, and can be seen with binoculars or a telescope. The pair is joined briefly by the Moon (June 9–10), providing useful visual reference points. You will need binoculars or a small telescope to see Neptune.

Uranus – a gradual return to the morning sky (mag ≈ +5.8)

Invisible at the beginning of the month, Uranus gradually reappears at dawn from mid-June onward. It rises earlier each day and becomes observable during the second half of the month near the Pleiades. On June 27, it draws close to Mars—a rewarding sight for observers equipped with binoculars or a telescope.