Conjunction · UpcomingMars meets Jupiter
Mars and Jupiter pass about 1.2 degrees apart in apparent direction. Their proximity is a line-of-sight effect.
Tonight, the
Universe Is Yours.
Discover the Moon, planets, and celestial events visible from your location.
Explore Tonight’s Sky ↓ Upcoming Sky Events ↗Explore planetary orbits in 3D →
Set your observing site
Greenwich, UK · demonstration · 51.480°, 0.000° · Europe/London
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Choose your observing night
Local noon to the following noon keeps evening and morning together. Times before noon belong to the following date.
Calculating the observing night…
Upcoming astronomical events
Conjunction · Upcoming
Meteor shower · UpcomingThe Geminids
Earth passes through debris associated with asteroid 3200 Phaethon. The estimated peak night is December 13–14.
Season · UpcomingDecember solstice
The Sun reaches its southernmost declination of the year. This marks astronomical summer in the south and winter in the north.
Your first night outside
Find a planet by direction
Face the listed azimuth, measured clockwise from north. East is 90°. Altitude is height above a level horizon. A fist at arm’s length spans roughly 10°. Start with your eyes before using binoculars.
Read the Moon and twilight
Sunlight always illuminates roughly half the Moon. The fraction of that half facing Earth changes through the month. Look along the shadow boundary to see relief. After sunset the Sun must descend 18° for astronomical twilight to end. Bright city skies can still hide faint targets.
Choose optics and watch meteors
Binoculars offer a wide field. A telescope with a steady mount and low-power eyepiece makes it easier to find your target before increasing magnification. For meteors, use your eyes and look across a wide field away from bright lights. Allow around half an hour for dark adaptation.
Observe the Sun safely
Never look directly at the Sun through a telescope or binoculars without an appropriate, correctly installed solar filter specifically designed for that equipment.
Explore the Solar System in Space Academy, astronomy binoculars and refractor telescopes.
Calculated locally with Astronomy Engine. Positions use a geometric sea-level horizon. Rise and set include standard refraction. Terrain and actual atmospheric refraction vary.