Skyview’s Guide to the Sky: June Edition
A MONTHLY LOOK AT WHAT’S HAPPENING ABOVE THE CENTRAL COAST
At Skyview Los Alamos, the sky isn’t just a backdrop — it’s part of the experience. From golden sunsets to star-filled nights, the wide-open skies above the Santa Ynez Valley offer some of the best stargazing on California’s Central Coast.
Each month in Skyview’s Guide to the Sky, we highlight a few things to look for overhead — from meteor showers and bright planets to rocket launches up the coast. Step outside, look up, and let the night put on a show.
Here’s what June has in store above the Central Coast.
🌌 Notable Sky Events This Month
Strawberry Moon — June 28
June’s Full Moon, traditionally known as the Strawberry Moon, rises low and golden over the valley sky. Despite the name, the moon won’t appear pink — the title comes from the short strawberry harvest season historically observed by Indigenous communities. Expect a warm-toned moonrise shortly after sunset, especially beautiful from the pool deck.
Summer Solstice — June 20
The longest day of the year officially marks the start of summer. June’s solstice brings extended golden hour light and later sunsets, creating ideal conditions for dusk swims, outdoor dinners, and stargazing deep into the evening.
Milky Way Visibility Peaks — All Month
June offers some of the clearest Milky Way viewing of the year. On darker nights, guests can spot the dense core of our galaxy stretching across the southeastern sky after midnight. The farther you get from artificial light, the more detail begins to appear overhead.
🪐 Planet Watch
This month, keep an eye out for:
Mars – Visible after sunset in the western sky, glowing softly red
Saturn – Rising late at night and best viewed before dawn
Venus – Bright in the morning sky before sunrise
Guests who want a closer look can enhance their stay with our Unistellar telescope experience, revealing galaxies, nebulae, and planetary details far beyond what the naked eye can see.
🚀 Rocket Launches from Vandenberg
Just up the coast, rocket launches regularly light up the Central Coast sky. When scheduled this month, guests may catch a SpaceX Falcon 9 streaking over the Pacific shortly after liftoff.
Sunset launches are especially spectacular — sometimes creating glowing “space jellyfish” trails that drift across the sky long after the rocket has passed.
Tip: Check the launch schedule during your stay — you might catch one from the pool deck.
🌑 Best Stargazing Nights
For the darkest skies of the month, plan your stargazing around the New Moon on June 25. With little moonlight competing overhead, fainter constellations and deep-sky objects become easier to spot across the Santa Ynez Valley.
🌕 June 28: Moonrise Swim at Skyview
The June Full Moon rises on June 28, bringing one of the dreamiest moonrises of the summer season. Known as the Strawberry Moon, it traditionally symbolizes abundance, celebration, and the arrival of summer.
To celebrate, Skyview hosts Moonrise Swims, a monthly full-moon gathering on the pool deck featuring live DJ sets presented by Traffic Records. Guests can float, dance, and watch the moon rise over the valley as the night unfolds.
Event details:
June 28 | Pool Deck at Skyview
$35 entry | Complimentary for hotel guests & Nomada members
21+ only | Weather permitting
Tarot readings, cocktail specials, and bites from Norman available for purchase
Slip into the heated pool and watch the moon rise — one of the most magical ways to experience the Central Coast night sky