SkyG — What's in the Sky Tonight | Moon Phase & Stargazing Guide

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Computed in your browser with low-precision lunar theory (Kepler solutions for the Sun and Moon plus perturbation terms) — see methodology. Phase instants are typically within a few hours of true values.

A note on planets: we don't publish planet positions here. Planets move night to night, and any fixed list would be wrong within days. For exact planet locations tonight, use a free planetarium app — our beginner guide explains how.

Seasonal highlights

The constellations and sights that define each season's evening sky (Northern Hemisphere). These change only with the seasons, never overnight.

Winter

Dec – Feb · Northern Hemisphere evenings

Orion the Hunter dominates the evening sky — look for the three belt stars in a row. Taurus the Bull (with orange Aldebaran) and Gemini the Twins ride high nearby, and Sirius in Canis Major — the brightest star in the night sky — blazes to the south. Auriga's Capella shines nearly overhead on cold clear nights.

OrionTaurus + AldebaranGeminiSirius (Canis Major)Capella (Auriga)

Spring

Mar – May · Northern Hemisphere evenings

Leo the Lion climbs high with the Big Dipper wheeling overhead. Follow the Dipper's handle arc to orange Arcturus in Bootes, then on to Spica in Virgo — the classic spring star-hop. Galaxy season begins: the Virgo Cluster of galaxies is well placed for small telescopes.

LeoBig Dipper (Ursa Major)Arcturus (Bootes)Spica (Virgo)

Summer

Jun – Aug · Northern Hemisphere evenings

The Summer Triangle — Vega, Deneb, and Altair — rules the evening sky. Scorpius curls low in the south with red Antares at its heart, and Sagittarius points the way to the Milky Way's glowing core. Cygnus the Swan flies along the Milky Way band.

Summer Triangle (Vega, Deneb, Altair)Scorpius + AntaresSagittarius / Milky Way coreCygnus

Autumn

Sep – Nov · Northern Hemisphere evenings

The Great Square of Pegasus marks the autumn sky. From its corner star, star-hop to the Andromeda Galaxy — the most distant thing most eyes can see (2.5 million light-years). Cassiopeia's W sits opposite the Big Dipper, circling the pole.

Great Square of PegasusAndromeda Galaxy (M31)CassiopeiaPisces

In the Southern Hemisphere the same constellations appear but the sky is flipped — Orion, for example, stands on his head. The moon-phase calculator above works worldwide.