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Night sky tonight: what can I see in the sky this evening?
The sky changes every evening: the Moon and planets move on, the constellations change with the seasons. The 3D model works out what can be seen over Switzerland tonight. And here is how to read the night sky yourself.
▶ Open “What can I see tonight?” Open the sky dome
The Moon today
The Moon today (approximately): – · Moon phases and lunar calendar
Planets visible tonight: how to recognise them
- Venus: it is never far from the Sun, so it appears as the evening star in the west or the morning star in the east. It is very bright.
- Jupiter: it shines bright and steady in whitish light. In binoculars you can see its four large moons.
- Mars: it is reddish and stands out by its colour.
- Saturn: it shines yellowish and steady. Only a telescope shows its rings.
- Mercury: it stays close to the Sun and can only be found low on the horizon shortly after sunset or before sunrise.
Planets hardly twinkle, stars do. Which planets can be seen tonight is shown by “What can I see tonight?” in the 3D model.
Constellations in the sky tonight: by season
- Visible all year: Plough (Big Dipper), Little Dipper, Cassiopeia, Cepheus, Draco.
- Winter: Orion, Taurus, Gemini, Auriga, Canis Major.
- Spring: Leo, Virgo, Boötes.
- Summer: Cygnus, Lyra, Aquila, Hercules, Scorpius.
- Autumn: Pegasus, Andromeda, Perseus, Aries.
All 26 constellations with maps and myths are under Constellations.
How to see the night sky at its best
- Away from street lamps and city lights, ideally in the mountains or the countryside.
- A clear night without the Moon: around new moon the sky is darkest.
- Wait at least 20 minutes until your eyes have adapted to the dark. Dim your phone light.
- Check the weather first: clouds and haze spoil the view.
Frequently asked questions about the night sky
Which planets can be seen in the sky today?
That changes from week to week. The “What can I see tonight?” section in the 3D model calculates it for tonight over Switzerland. With the naked eye you can see Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn when they are above the horizon and not too close to the Sun.
How do I find the Pole Star?
Extend the two rear stars of the Plough (Big Dipper) bowl about five times. The Pole Star is there. It always points north.
What can you see in the night sky without a telescope?
The Moon, five planets, the bright stars and all the constellations. In a dark place the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy as a faint patch are added.
When is the night sky best seen?
On clear, moonless nights, far from city lights. Around new moon the sky is darkest. Your eyes need about 20 to 30 minutes to adapt to the dark.
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