Star Walk

This is the official Twitter presence for Vito Technology, Inc. that developed the night sky app Star Walk!

#GoStargazing with #StarWalk #AstronomyApp

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

June 2026: Moon Watch 🌙

Want to keep track of the Moon this month? Here are the key dates:

🌗 Last Quarter — June 8 at 10:00 GMT / 06:00 EDT
🌑 New Moon — June 15 at 02:54 GMT / June 14 at 22:54 EDT
🌓 First Quarter — June 21 at 21:55 GMT / 17:55 EDT
🌕 Full Moon — June 29 at 23:57 GMT / 19:57 EDT

A few things to know:
✨ New Moon is the best time for stargazing, because moonlight won’t wash out faint stars and deep-sky objects.
✨ Around the Quarter phases, the Moon is especially fun to observe through binoculars or a telescope — shadows along the lunar surface make craters and mountains stand out beautifully.
✨ Full Moon is always striking, but it can also make the sky much brighter, which is not ideal for spotting faint meteors or deep-sky objects.

Which Moon do you enjoy most — New Moon for stargazing, Quarter Moon for exploring, or Full Moon for the wow effect? 🌝

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Looking for June astrophotography targets? 🌌

This month offers a stunning lineup of deep-sky objects: the Ring Nebula, the Blue Horsehead Nebula, the Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex, the Trifid Nebula, the Lagoon Nebula, the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, and many more.

See how to find and photograph them:
https://t.co/tZCVbomEFI

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

✨ Planet visibility: June 1–15, 2026

Venus and Jupiter steal the show after sunset, shining close together in the evening sky. Around June 9, they appear especially close, and around June 12, Mercury joins them for a compact three-planet lineup.

Before sunrise, Saturn is the best planet to watch, with Mars and Neptune also in the morning sky — though they’re more challenging targets. Uranus remains too faint and low to see easily.

Look for clear horizons, and use binoculars only after the Sun has completely set. 🌌

Learn more: https://t.co/3WFZnBRIeQ

#planets #jupiter #venus #stargazing #starwalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Weekend plan: stars, planets, deep-sky objects 🔭✨
Actual result: one giant cloud blanket ☁️
Drop a 🌧️ if the weather has ruined your stargazing plans lately.

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

✨ What constellations can you see in June?

June nights are full of stories: follow the Big Dipper’s handle to bright Arcturus in Boötes, find Polaris in Ursa Minor, or look between Spica and Antares for the faint stars of Libra 🌌

Our June guide features 5 constellations best seen this month — from bright northern favorites to harder southern targets — with their brightest stars, notable deep-sky objects, mythology, and step-by-step observing tips.

Learn more: https://t.co/Jg2mLNFSsY

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Once in a blue moon… on May 31! 🌕 ⁠
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This Sunday, look up to see a rare Blue Moon — the second Full Moon of the month. It’s also a Micromoon, appearing 5.5% smaller and 10.5% dimmer than usual.⁠
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Look nearby for Antares, the bright red star in Scorpius. Blue Moon + red star = perfect skywatching duo ✨⁠
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Save the date!⁠
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#bluemoon #fullmoon #moon #stargazig #starwalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

The Blue Moon is here! 🌕💙

On May 31, we’ll see the second Full Moon of May — and it’s also a Micromoon, the smallest Full Moon of 2026.

It won’t look blue, but it’s still rare ✨

Learn more: https://t.co/aB4u6ROBlo

#BlueMoon #FullMoon #Moon #Stargazing #Astronomy #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Telescope owners, roll call! 🔭

We want to know: who among our followers has a telescope? What model do you use?

And if you don’t have one yet, are you planning to get one soon?

Share your telescope setup — or your dream telescope — in the comments!

#Telescope #Stargazing #Astronomy #Astrophotography #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Manhattanhenge is coming! 🌇⁠
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The name “Manhattanhenge” is a mix of “Manhattan” and “Stonehenge.” Just like Stonehenge is famous for its solar alignments, Manhattan gets its own city version when the setting Sun lines up perfectly with the island’s east-west streets.⁠
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If Manhattan’s streets were aligned with true east and west, this sunset show would happen around the equinoxes. But because the city grid is rotated about 29° clockwise, the Sun lines up with the streets on special dates near the June solstice.⁠
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Save the nearest Sunset Manhattanhenge dates:⁠
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🌅 Half Sun: May 28, 2026, at 8:14 PM EDT⁠
🌅 Full Sun: May 29, 2026, at 8:13 PM EDT⁠
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For the best view, stand on an east-west street and face west. Popular viewing spots include 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets. Try to stand as far east as possible while keeping a clear view toward New Jersey.⁠
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And don’t forget: many people watch from the street, so stay aware of traffic and keep safe.⁠

Learn more: https://t.co/5kFo3DwNSY
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#Manhattanhenge #NYC #NewYorkCity #Sunset #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

A rare Full Moon is coming! 🌕💙

On May 31, 2026, the Moon will reach its full phase. It will be the second Full Moon of May, which makes it a calendrical Blue Moon ✨

Despite the name, the Moon won’t actually turn blue — it will look like a regular Full Moon. But Blue Moons don’t happen often, which is where the phrase “once in a Blue Moon” comes from.

🌕 Best viewing: around local moonrise, near sunset
👀 The Moon will appear full from May 30 to June 1
📱 Use Star Walk 2 or Sky Tonight to instantly find the Moon in the sky

Learn more: https://t.co/fWVST5nw07

#BlueMoon #FullMoon #Moon #Stargazing #Astronomy #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

🌕 Earth’s Moon feels big to us

… but in the Solar System ranking, it’s only #5!

The true giants are worlds like Ganymede, Titan, and Callisto — moons so massive that some are even larger than the planet Mercury.

Here are the 7 biggest moons in the Solar System by diameter:

1️⃣ Ganymede — 5,268 km (3,273 mi)
2️⃣ Titan — 5,150 km (3,200 mi)
3️⃣ Callisto — 4,821 km (2,996 mi)
4️⃣ Io — 3,643 km (2,264 mi)
5️⃣ Earth’s Moon — 3,475 km (2,159 mi)
6️⃣ Europa — 3,122 km (1,940 mi)
7️⃣ Triton — 2,706 km (1,681 mi)

Which moon surprised you the most on this list?

#SolarSystem #Moons #Astronomy #Space #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

👔 Physics vs 🪶 Astrophysics – a friendly cosmic rivalry.

🔭 Physics seeks fundamental laws – from particles to quantum fields. Their influence on astronomy? Spectroscopy, gravitational waves, the Standard Model. And their classic joke: "First, let's assume a spherical horse in a vacuum…" 🐴✨ Fun fact: many early "astronomers" were physicists who got tired of Earth's atmosphere. 🌍➡️🌌

🪐 Astrophysics applies those laws to stars, galaxies, and the Universe. Their superpower? Turning messy observational data into cosmic stories. Fun fact: Astrophysicists often use π ≈ 1 as a joke – because in space, orders of magnitude matter more than precision. 😄

🤝 No real conflict – just different scales. Physicists build the tools, astrophysicists point them at the sky. Together they explain dark matter, black holes, and why the night is dark.

So, who are you today – physicist or astrophysicist? 👇

#Physics #Astrophysics #SphericalHorse #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

NASA Just Made Mars Helicopter Blades Go Faster Than Sound 🚁

Why go that fast?

Because flying on Mars is ridiculously hard. The Martian atmosphere is only about 1% as dense as Earth’s, so a helicopter has almost no air to “grab” and push down. That means future Mars aircraft need to spin their blades much faster than helicopters on Earth.

At NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, engineers recreated Mars-like conditions and pushed next-generation rotor blades beyond the sound barrier. The blades survived.

That could be a big deal for future Mars missions.

More lift means future helicopters may be able to carry heavier science instruments, better sensors, and larger batteries — turning them from tiny tech demos into real flying explorers.
That’s what makes space exploration so fascinating: every “impossible” problem becomes an engineering challenge.

What do you think, is Mars worth exploring in such depth? 🔴

Picture Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

[Dr. Sebastian Voltmer @SeVoSpace]

Moon–Venus conjunction
captured with my Sony A7…

#moon #planet #venus #astrophotography

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

For years, we’ve been asking the universe if anyone is out there. 📡

Maybe the bigger question is:
are we ready if someone answers? 👽

What would you do if this was the message we received? 👀

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

🌙 Moon, Beehive, Venus, and Jupiter on May 21

On May 21, step outside after sunset and look west. You’ll see the crescent Moon near the Beehive Cluster — a small “cloud” of stars in the constellation Cancer. ✨

The Moon will be only 30% illuminated, so the cluster may still be visible nearby. For the best view, use binoculars. 🔭

Venus and Jupiter will also be in the same area of the sky. Venus will be the bright point low above the horizon, and Jupiter will shine higher up, between Venus and the Moon. 🪐

Details:
🌙 Moon illumination: 30%
📏 Distance: 1°02′
🌅 Best viewing time: shortly after sunset

Look for a clear western horizon and enjoy the view. ✨

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

🚨 Close asteroid flyby today — but no danger to Earth!

On May 18, 2026, building-sized asteroid 2026 JH2 will pass unusually close to our planet — at just 0.24 lunar distances, or about 90,000 km (56,000 mi) away.

That’s closer than the Moon, but astronomers confirm there’s zero chance of impact. 2026 JH2 is estimated to be 15–34 meters wide — comparable in size to the Chelyabinsk meteor — and may brighten to magnitude 11.8 around its closest approach.

You won’t see it with the naked eye, but observers with small telescopes may be able to catch it after sunset as it moves through Ursa Major and Leo.

Don’t panic over scary headlines — this is a safe cosmic flyby and a rare chance to watch a near-Earth asteroid in real time.

🔭 Use the free Sky Tonight app to locate asteroid 2026 JH2 in your sky.

#Asteroid #2026JH2 #NearEarthAsteroid #Astronomy #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

✨ Venus meets M35 in Gemini!
On May 21, Venus will pass close to the M35 star cluster in the constellation Gemini.

📍 Event details:
Close approach: 00:40 GMT
Conjunction: 00:46 GMT
Distance: 0°45′
Venus magnitude: -3.9
M35 magnitude: 5.1

Venus will be easy to spot with the naked eye in the evening sky. M35, however, is much dimmer — under very dark skies, you might glimpse it as a faint glow, but binoculars or a small telescope will reveal it as a beautiful little group of stars. The pair will be close enough to fit in the same binocular field of view.

Around the same dates, Gemini will host even more bright objects: the crescent Moon and Jupiter will appear higher up near Pollux and Castor, making this a lovely evening scene to observe and photograph.

Grab your binoculars and look toward Gemini after sunset! 🌙✨

#venus #jupiter #stargazing #astronomy #starwalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

On the evenings of May 18–20, don’t miss a beautiful celestial meetup 🌙✨⁠
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A thin crescent Moon will pass by the two brightest planets — Venus and Jupiter — low above the western horizon shortly after sunset. All three will be easy to spot, even from the city. And as a bonus, Castor and Pollux will shine nearby, making the view even prettier ⭐️⁠
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Just keep in mind: the Moon just passed its new phase, so it won’t stay visible for long after sunset. To find the best viewing time for your location, use the Star Walk 2 app 📲⁠
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#Moon #Venus #Jupiter #NightSky #Stargazing #StarWalk

[Star Walk @StarWalk]

Ever looked at the Milky Way and realized… you’re looking at home?⁠
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That glowing band across the night sky is our galaxy seen from the inside — a vast barred spiral galaxy filled with stars, planets, gas, dust, and dark matter.⁠
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A few mind-blowing Milky Way facts:⁠
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✦ It contains about 100–400 billion stars⁠
✦ It stretches about 105,700 light-years across⁠
✦ Our Solar System sits in the Orion Arm, about 27,000 light-years from the Galactic Center⁠
✦ At the center lies Sagittarius A*, a supermassive black hole about 4 million times the mass of the Sun⁠
✦ One orbit around the Milky Way takes the Sun about 225–250 million years⁠
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Want to see the brightest part of our galaxy? Look for the Galactic Center during Milky Way season — from March to October in the Northern Hemisphere and from February to October in the Southern Hemisphere.⁠
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For the best view: find a dark sky, avoid moonlight, check the weather, and use Sky Tonight to locate the Milky Way Center from your exact location.⁠
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Learn more about our fascinating home: https://t.co/fzlh9U2oIa

Clear skies! 🌌⁠
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#MilkyWay #NightSky #Stargazing #Astronomy #StarWalk