June 12
Ancient Name, Uncertain Origin
Sun Position
The Sun is in Gemini, declination near +23°. Northern Hemisphere nights are at their shortest; southern winter nights are longest.
Sky Highlight
No major meteor shower peaks today. Boötes is well-placed high in the northern sky during June evenings, with Arcturus dominating the view, a good night to trace the kite shape of the herdsman from his feet near Virgo up to his head near Coronae.
Deep Sky Object
NGC 5466, a globular cluster about 51,800 light-years away. NGC 5466 in Boötes is a loose, low-concentration globular cluster notable for hosting a tidal stellar stream (a trail of stars stripped by the Milky Way's gravity) making it one of the few globulars with a directly observable tidal tail. Well-placed in June from northern latitudes; requires at least a medium amateur telescope to see clearly.
Featured Star
Seginus (γ Boo) is a white giant (A7III) about 85 light-years away in Boötes; its name's etymology has been debated for centuries without a settled conclusion. A steady, unspectacular star whose name outlasted the reasoning behind it.
Around This Date
- June 13, 1983Pioneer 10 crossed the orbit of Neptune and became the first human-made object to travel beyond the realm of the major planets.
- June 12, 1967The Soviet Venera 4 spacecraft was launched toward Venus; it would become the first probe to transmit data directly from another planet's atmosphere.
Some stars keep their names long after anyone recalls why they were given.