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tonight's sky — live star map_
See exactly what's above you right now — planets, all 88 constellations and the Moon — on a live star map for your location and time. Free, no signup, no app.
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zenith (straight up) at the centre · horizon at the edge · N·E·S·W around the rim
What's in the sky tonight?
This free live star map answers the question the moment you open it: it computes the positions of 900+ naked-eye stars, all 88 constellations, the planets and the Moon for your exact coordinates and the current second — entirely in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server: your location never leaves your device. Whether you spotted a suspiciously bright "star" (usually Venus or Jupiter), want to know which planets are visible tonight, or are planning a stargazing session, the sky dome above shows the real sky over your head, updated live.
How to use the star map
Press 📍 My location (or search a city) so the dome matches your sky, then compare: the centre of the circle is the zenith — straight overhead — and the rim is your horizon with the compass points marked. The side panel lists the altitude, direction and rise/set times of the Sun, Moon and every planet. Use the time control to jump to any moment — check where Jupiter will be at 11 pm, replay a past night, or hit fast-forward and watch the whole sky wheel around the celestial pole. The glance cards at the top track sunset and sunrise, tonight's Moon phase, and how dark your sky currently is.
Stargazing tonight: quick tips
Start after astronomical twilight (roughly 90 minutes after sunset — the darkness card tells you live), give your eyes 20–30 minutes to adapt, and use a red light to keep them adapted. City light pollution hides faint stars, but the Moon, planets and bright constellations like Orion, Ursa Major and Cassiopeia punch straight through. Before you head out, check the clouds on the rain & cloud radar, see if the ISS passes overhead tonight, and if geomagnetic activity is high, watch the live aurora forecast.
Frequently asked questions
What planets are visible in the sky tonight?
It changes night to night — which is exactly what this live star map shows. Enter your location and every planet above your horizon appears on the sky dome, with altitude, compass direction and rise/set times in the side panel. As a rule of thumb: Venus and Jupiter are the two brightest planets and outshine every star, Mars glows a distinct orange-red, Saturn shines steady and yellowish, Mercury only hugs the horizon shortly after sunset or before sunrise, and Uranus and Neptune need binoculars or a telescope.
What is the very bright star I can see tonight?
Nine times out of ten, a strikingly bright "star" is actually a planet — usually Venus (the "evening star" or "morning star") or Jupiter. Check the map: planets are drawn with coloured, labelled dots. If it really is a star, the brightest in the night sky is Sirius, followed by Canopus, Arcturus and Vega. If the light moves steadily across the sky it's probably the ISS or another satellite, and if it blinks red and green it's an aircraft.
What constellations can I see tonight?
That depends on your latitude, the season and the time of night — the map draws all 88 constellations that are above your horizon right now. From mid-northern latitudes you can always see circumpolar constellations such as Ursa Major (with the Big Dipper), Cassiopeia and Ursa Minor. Seasonal highlights: Orion and Taurus in winter, Leo in spring, Cygnus and Scorpius in summer, Pegasus and Andromeda in autumn. Click any constellation name on the dome to highlight its stick figure.
How do I read this star map?
The circle is your entire sky squashed into a dome (a "planisphere" view): the centre is the zenith — the point straight above your head — and the rim is your horizon, with North, East, South and West marked around it. To match it to the real sky, face the direction shown on the rim and imagine lifting the map over your head. A star halfway between the centre and the edge stands about 45° above the horizon. Hover any dot for its name; click a constellation to highlight it.
What time is best for stargazing tonight?
The best window starts when astronomical twilight ends — when the Sun sinks more than 18° below the horizon, roughly 90 minutes to two hours after sunset depending on season and latitude. The "sky darkness" card on this page tells you the current state live. For the faintest objects, also pick a night near new moon: a bright gibbous or full Moon washes out the Milky Way and faint stars. Use the fast-forward button to preview how tonight's sky develops hour by hour.
What is the Moon phase tonight?
The Moon-phase card on this page shows tonight's phase and illumination percentage live for your location. The Moon runs through its 29.5-day cycle: new moon → waxing crescent → first quarter → waxing gibbous → full moon → waning gibbous → last quarter → waning crescent. Around full moon the sky never gets properly dark, so deep-sky observers plan around the new moon; casual Moon-watching is actually best near first quarter, when low sunlight angles throw its craters into sharp relief.
Why can I see so few stars from the city?
Light pollution. Scattered artificial light brightens the sky background until faint stars disappear — a city-centre sky (Bortle class 8–9) shows only a few dozen to a few hundred stars, while a truly dark site (Bortle 1–2) reveals thousands plus the Milky Way. You can fight back: let your eyes dark-adapt for 20–30 minutes, block direct light sources, observe after midnight when many lights switch off, and when possible drive even 30–60 km out of the city.
How do I find the North Star (Polaris)?
Find the Big Dipper in Ursa Major, take the two stars at the front of its "bowl" (Dubhe and Merak), and extend the line between them about five times its length — you land on Polaris. Two surprises: Polaris is not particularly bright (only the ~48th brightest star), and its height above the horizon equals your latitude, which is why sailors used it for navigation. It sits almost exactly above Earth's axis, so it marks due north all night, all year.
How can I tell a planet from a star?
Three giveaways: planets shine with a steady light while stars twinkle (stars are point sources, so atmospheric turbulence makes them flicker); planets sit along the ecliptic — the same band the Sun and Moon travel; and planets visibly change position against the stars from night to night ("planet" literally means "wanderer" in Greek). Venus and Jupiter are also simply brighter than any star. On this map you don't have to guess: planets are drawn with coloured, labelled markers.
Can I see the ISS or satellites tonight?
Very likely — the International Space Station is the third-brightest object in the sky and crosses it in about five minutes, looking like a brilliant, steady, non-blinking star. Satellites are only visible when they catch sunlight, so the best windows are within roughly two hours after sunset or before sunrise. This star map focuses on stars, planets and the Moon; for exact ISS and satellite pass times over your location, use the free Satellite Flyby tracker.
Can I see the northern lights (aurora) tonight?
Only during geomagnetic storms, and the further north you are, the better your odds. Aurora visibility depends on the Kp index: Kp 5+ can bring the aurora to northern-central Europe, Kp 7+ occasionally as far south as Belgium or the northern USA. It's independent of normal stargazing conditions, so check a live forecast such as the free Aurora Watch map, and look toward the northern horizon from a dark location.
How accurate is this star map?
Positions are computed with astronomy-engine (MIT-licensed, by Don Cross), which delivers roughly arcminute-level accuracy for the Sun, Moon and planets — far finer than the eye can distinguish — and rise/set times typically within a minute. The star catalogue contains 900+ naked-eye stars from the Yale Bright Star Catalog with all 88 IAU constellations. Everything is calculated live in your browser for your exact coordinates and time; it's ideal for naked-eye observing, though telescope users should use dedicated pointing software.
Do I need a telescope to start stargazing?
No — start with your naked eye and this map: learn the bright stars, the planets and a dozen constellations first. The classic second step is a pair of 7×50 or 10×50 binoculars, which already show the Moon's craters, Jupiter's four largest moons, the Pleiades cluster and the Andromeda galaxy. Only then consider a telescope, once you can navigate the sky and know what you enjoy observing. The best instrument is the one you actually take outside.
Is this star map free, and does it work on my phone?
Yes — completely free, no account, no app to install, no ads. It runs entirely in your browser: your location and the astronomy calculations never leave your device. It works on phones, tablets and desktops, and the fullscreen mode turns it into a field-ready sky chart. Outdoors tip: enable your phone's red-light or night filter to protect your dark adaptation while you compare the map with the real sky.
Can I see what the sky looked like on a past date, or preview a future night?
Yes. Use the time control to enter any date and time — the whole sky, including planet positions and the Moon phase, is recomputed instantly for that moment at your location. The fast-forward button animates the sky in 4-minute steps, which is a great way to preview tonight: watch which constellations rise, when the Moon gets out of the way, and where a planet will be at 11 pm before you head outside.