Now & Here works out what is in the sky above you right now, for your own place and time, and gathers the parts of the Universe that are changing as you watch: where Voyager 1 is, which space stations will fly over you, today's Sun and the asteroids passing Earth.
What can I see in the night sky tonight?
The star map at the top is your sky at this moment, as if you were lying on your back with your head to the north. Under it, each planet gets a line saying whether you can see it tonight, between which times, and how high it gets. A planet counts as visible when it is at least 10° above the horizon while the Sun is 6° or more below it, so the sky is dark enough. The Moon's phase and rising time are there too, because a bright Moon washes out faint stars.
Your place is first estimated from your time zone. Press Use my exact location for times to the minute; that location stays on your device.
The live Universe
- Voyager 1: its distance from Earth, growing every second as you watch, and how long its signal takes to reach us. On 18 November 2026 it becomes the first spacecraft one light-day from Earth.
- Space stations over you: the next passes of the International Space Station and China's Tiangong that you can see with your own eyes from where you are, from CelesTrak's latest orbits.
- Your side of the Earth: the newest photo of the whole sunlit Earth from NASA's EPIC camera on the DSCOVR satellite, 1.5 million km away.
- The Sun today and aurora forecast: the latest pictures from NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, the solar wind, the Kp index and NOAA's aurora forecast.
- Asteroids passing Earth: every asteroid in JPL's close-approach table that passes within 19.5 lunar distances in the next 60 days, with its size and speed.
- Deep Space Network: which NASA antenna is talking to which spacecraft right now.
Tips for stargazing
Give your eyes 15 to 20 minutes in the dark, without looking at a bright phone screen, and the number of stars you can see grows several times over. Planets shine steadily while stars twinkle, which is the quickest way to tell them apart. The darkest nights of the month are around the New Moon; the Sky Calendar lists them, along with meteor showers and planets meeting in the sky.
Frequently asked questions
What planets can I see tonight?
It depends on your place and the date. Now & Here works out each planet's visible times and height for where you are, from NASA JPL's DE440 ephemeris.
How can I tell a planet from a star?
Planets usually shine with a steady light and stars twinkle. Planets also stay close to the path the Sun and Moon follow across the sky.
When is the ISS visible from my location?
Usually in the hour or two after sunset or before sunrise, when the station is still in sunlight but your sky is dark. The space stations card lists your next visible passes.
How far away is Voyager 1?
About 26 billion km in late 2026, and its signal takes about a full day to reach Earth. The page shows the live figure.
Is my location stored?
No. The estimate from your network or time zone is not stored, and an exact location you choose to share stays on your device.