As June begins, the night sky greets stargazers with a blend of familiar favorites. This week we highlight a picturesque conjunction between Mars and the crescent moon, and Venus shines brightly as the Morning Star. Saturn lingers low in the early morning hours, and the Summer Triangle begins to dominate the eastern sky, signaling the slow approach of summer nights.

We take a look at some of the action around the Galactic Core, home to deep sky gems like the Lagoon and Trifid Nebulae, and the supermassive black hole known as Sagittarius A*, before taking a detour into New York City, where the phenomenon of Manhattanhenge dazzles viewers. Plus, learn what other cities experience similar solar alignments, and how to find out if your own town has its own “henge” using the Photographer's Ephemeris!

Finally, we explore the gravitational architecture of space by introducing the Lagrange Points—those curious and incredibly useful spots in the Earth–Sun system where spacecraft can "park" with minimal effort.

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails, on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social, or YouTube @TheStarTrailsPodcast.

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