Sky Tonight
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Santa Clara, US 37.4°/-122°
GMT -9
Waxing17:18 - 04:26
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Observation Settings

Or select it on the map:
This Earth map lets you select the observer’s location used to calculate the bearing and elevation of celestial objects. The selected point determines how the sky, rise and set times, and object positions are shown.
Your location: Santa Clara, United States
Timezone:
Latitude:
37.3541
Longitude:
-121.955

Sky Tonight

All you can find in the sky. Even clouds.

Sky Map

The sky above you at 17:18
Explore the sky above your location. Find planets, stars and deep-sky objects, and see how the sky changes throughout the night.

What’s Visible Tonight — October 22–23

Sunset
16:20
Stargazing
17:18–04:26
Sunrise
05:24

Moon

Waxing Gibbous · 90% illuminatedVisible 17:18–02:40

Fainter stars, galaxies and nebulae should become easier to see after the Moon sets around 02:35, provided local light pollution is low.

Lunar highlights: Aristarchus, Mare Imbrium, Clavius

Tonight’s Highlights

What to see in the sky tonight
Loading interactive map…

Saturn, the ringed planet, is a good evening target from around 17:20. It is a naked-eye target, with a telescope revealing its rings.

Hercules Globular Cluster (M13), a dense globe of stars, is a good evening target around 17:20–19:30. Binoculars show a patch of light, while a telescope reveals more detail.

Dumbbell Nebula (M27), a two-lobed planetary nebula, can be observed from around 17:50. A telescope helps reveal its shape, especially under darker skies.

The star cluster Pleiades (M45), a familiar pattern of stars, is a good evening target from around 19:20. Binoculars show more stars.

Beehive Cluster (M44), an open cluster of stars, is a later-night target, around 00:30. Binoculars bring out its stars.

Jupiter, the largest planet, is a later-night target, around 01:50. It is a naked-eye target, with a telescope revealing more detail.

Constellations to Spot Tonight

Cassiopeia: Five stars trace a distinctive W. Find the pattern toward the north-east around 17:50; it remains favorably placed until around 03:50.

Cygnus: The Northern Cross stretches from Deneb to Albireo. Find the pattern high in the sky around 17:50; it remains favorably placed until around 22:30.

Pegasus: The Great Square includes Alpheratz, which belongs to Andromeda. Find the pattern toward the east around 17:50; it remains favorably placed until around 01:30.

Solar System Objects

Sun

Not visible tonight

Sun
↗ 05:24 ↘ 16:20 ↑ -12°
☼ -26.8 ✣ 32'
2 active sunspot regions. Largest: 4560 (Eai, 160 MSH). No significant flares detected today.
More about Sun

Moon

Waxing Gibbous (89% illuminated)

Moon
↗ 14:26 ↘ 02:40 ↑ 51°
☼ -11.7 ✣ 31'
The Full Moon occurs on 25 October 2026 at 18:54 in Aries.
The New Moon follows on 8 November 2026 at 21:55 in Libra.
More about Moon

Planets

See which planets are visible tonight and check their rise and set times.

Jupiter

Visible from early morning until sunrise

Jupiter
↗ 00:01 ↘ 13:30 ↑ 52°
☼ -2 ✣ 35"
Jupiter is currently in the constellation Leo. It is now brightening after conjunction and will reach its next opposition around 11 February 2027.
More about Jupiter

Saturn

Visible from sunset until early morning

Saturn
↗ 15:38 ↘ 03:44 ↑ 54°
☼ 0.4 ✣ 19.6"
Saturn is currently in the constellation Cetus. It is now fading as it moves toward conjunction and will reach its next opposition around 18 October 2027.
More about Saturn

Mars

Visible from before midnight until sunrise

Mars
↗ 23:13 ↘ 13:07 ↑ 61°
☼ 0.9 ✣ 6.2"
Mars is currently in the constellation Cancer. It is now brightening after conjunction and will reach its next opposition around 20 February 2027.
More about Mars
For the complete list and upcoming visibility dates, open the Planets Tonight page.

Active Meteor Showers

Orionids

Meteor shower

Orionids
↗ 20:39 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 68°
☼ - ✣ -
The Orionids meteor shower is active from October 2 to November 7 and peaks around October 21.
More about Orionids
For the complete list of meteor showers, open the Active Meteor Showers.

Satellite Flyovers

A short list of the brightest upcoming satellite flyovers.
No bright satellite flyovers are expected in the next hour.
For the complete schedule, open the Satellites page.

Brightest Stars

Five of the brightest stars visible at some point tonight.

Sirius

Star

Sirius
↗ 22:39 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 36°
☼ -1.4 ✣ -
Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky, a binary star system located in the constellation Canis Major. Its brilliant white light is easily visible from Earth.
More about Sirius

Vega

Star

Vega
↗ 17:18 ↘ 00:08 ↑ 70°
☼ 0 ✣ -
Vega, the fifth brightest star, is part of the constellation Lyra. It is one of the most luminous stars visible from Earth and a prominent member of the Summer Triangle asterism.
More about Vega

Capella

Star

Capella
↗ 17:18 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 81°
☼ 0.1 ✣ -
Capella, the sixth brightest star, is a yellow giant located in the constellation Auriga. Its brightness and close proximity to the celestial north pole make it easily identifiable.
More about Capella

Rigel

Star

Rigel
↗ 20:40 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 44°
☼ 0.2 ✣ -
Rigel, the seventh brightest star, is a blue supergiant in the constellation Orion. It is one of the most massive and luminous stars visible to the naked eye.
More about Rigel

Procyon

Star

Procyon
↗ 22:24 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 58°
☼ 0.4 ✣ -
Procyon, the eighth brightest star, is a binary system in the constellation Canis Minor. Its name means 'before the dog' as it rises just before Sirius, the 'Dog Star'.
More about Procyon
Explore the complete list of the brightest stars.

Nebulae

Discover bright deep-sky objects visible at some point tonight.

Beehive Cluster (M44)

Open Cluster

Beehive Cluster (M44)
↗ 22:37 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 66°
☼ 3.1 ✣ 1.8°
The Beehive Cluster, an open star cluster containing over 1,000 stars, located approximately 577 light-years away in the constellation Cancer.
More about Beehive Cluster (M44)

Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy (M31)
↗ 17:18 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 86°
☼ 3.4 ✣ 3°
The Andromeda Galaxy, the nearest spiral galaxy to the Milky Way, containing over a trillion stars, located approximately 2.537 million light-years away.
More about Andromeda Galaxy (M31)

Orion Nebula (M42)

Star cluster + Nebula

Orion Nebula (M42)
↗ 20:52 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 47°
☼ 4 ✣ 1.5°
The Orion Nebula, a bright emission nebula and star-forming region, containing over 700 stars, located approximately 1,344 light-years away in the constellation Orion.
More about Orion Nebula (M42)

M47

Open Cluster

M47
↗ 23:22 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 38°
☼ 4.4 ✣ 20'
An open star cluster containing over 500 stars, located approximately 1,600 light-years away in the constellation Puppis.
More about M47

M41

Open Cluster

M41
↗ 22:54 ↘ 04:26 ↑ 32°
☼ 4.5 ✣ 12'
The Little Beehive Cluster, an open star cluster containing over 100 stars, located approximately 2,300 light-years away in the constellation Canis Major.
More about M41
For a complete list with locations, brightness and photos, open the Nebulae page.