What's in the sky tonight?
That bright light you noticed is probably a planet. Tell us where you are and we'll tell you which one, where to look, and when, in plain words.
What's that bright star?
Point to where it is and how high. We'll work out what you're looking at in four taps.
PlanetsWhere the planets are
Which are in the evening sky, which are up before dawn, and when each is at its best.
MoonTonight's Moon
The phase right now, and the dates of the next new, quarter and full Moons.
Planet or star? A thirty-second guide
Stars twinkle, planets don't. A star is a point so small that our shifting air makes it flicker. A planet is a tiny disc, so its light holds steady. If the brightest thing in your sky is calm and unblinking, it's a planet.
Brightness narrows it down. Venus is dazzling and only ever appears for a few hours after sunset or before sunrise. Jupiter is the bright one that can be up at midnight. Mars has a rusty orange tint. Saturn is a steady, pale gold.
If it moves, it isn't either. A light that glides across the sky in minutes is a satellite. One that blinks is a plane. Planets and stars drift with the turning sky too slowly to notice.