Retired faculty member and administrator Mr. Lutken offers guidance on what to expect in Mother Nature in June and July 2023.

May was nice this year with some good rains! Now Memorial Day has come and gone, and summer is here! Cottonwood seeds are floating in the air, and Scissortail Flycatchers are zooming over fields. 

The Summer Solstice is on June 21st, longest day of the year at around 14 hours

Evenings: 

Venus is the brilliant Evening Star for early summer. The Summer Triangle  is in the northeast and moves straight overhead during the evenings.  

If you can get away from city lights this summer, you'll see the Milky Way running through it down to Sagittarius, at the center of our galaxy far, far away!

Full Moons in June and July are both on the 3rd of the month.  

Mornings: 

In the east/ southeast, Jupiter is becoming a bright Morning Star and Saturn is up in the south along the Plane of the Ecliptic! 

In July, we'll begin to see the Pleiades, Taurus and other stars of the Fall and Winter joining them in the east!

At the Quarry or wherever you are:  

Swifts and Swallows are darting through the skies, and Hummingbirds will be here soon!

Photos are of the Blaz Memorial, east of the Chapel, at a Summer Solstice sunrise. ESD's own version of Stonehenge!! It's a wonderful way to learn about the skies and seasons! 

Helps us remember old friends!

Have a great summer, get outdoors and take it in!

PKL