Sky Tonight
All you can find in the sky. Even clouds.
Sky Map
What’s Visible Tonight — October 21–22
- Sunset
- 16:21
- Stargazing
- 17:19–04:25
- Sunrise
- 05:24
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 82% illuminatedVisible 17:19–01:36
Fainter stars, galaxies and nebulae should become easier to see after the Moon sets around 01:31, provided local light pollution is low.
Lunar highlights: Clavius, Plato, Mare Imbrium
Tonight’s Highlights
Orionids — estimated peak around October 21. Watch with the naked eye during the useful dark-sky window, about 01:41–03:51. Meteors can appear across the sky. Moonlight may reduce the number of meteors you can see.
Saturn, the ringed planet, is suitable for observing now. It is a naked-eye target, with a telescope revealing its rings.
The star cluster Pleiades (M45), a familiar pattern of stars, can be observed now. Binoculars show more stars.
Beehive Cluster (M44), an open cluster of stars, is a later-night target, around 00:40. Binoculars bring out its stars.
Andromeda Galaxy (M31) is a later-night target, around 01:50. Under dark skies, binoculars reveal its bright central region.
Orion Nebula (M42), a bright nebula, is a later-night target, around 01:50. Binoculars are useful, with darker skies helping.
Jupiter, the largest planet, is a later-night target, around 02:00. It is a naked-eye target, with a telescope revealing more detail.
Constellations to Spot Tonight
Cassiopeia: Five stars trace a distinctive W. The pattern is toward the north now; it remains favorably placed until around 03:50.
Orion: Three Belt stars sit inside a bright four-star outline. Find the pattern toward the south-east around 22:50; it remains favorably placed until around 03:50.
Pegasus: The Great Square includes Alpheratz, which belongs to Andromeda. The pattern is toward the south-west now; it remains favorably placed until around 01:30.
