Field notes for the night sky
Stargazing Tonight
A quick read on the moon, the sky, and what to look for before you head out.
Calculating…
Before You Head Out
Give it 20–30 minutes
Your eyes need real time to adapt to darkness. Avoid checking your phone at full brightness once you're out there.
Use a red light
Red light preserves your night vision far better than white light. A red flashlight or a phone filter both work.
Get away from light pollution
Even a modest drive away from town lighting dramatically increases how many stars you can see.
Check the moon
A bright moon washes out fainter stars and the Milky Way. New-moon nights are best for deep-sky viewing.
Check the clouds, not just the forecast
Look for clear-sky or astronomy-specific forecasts — regular weather apps often miss thin high cloud that ruins seeing.
Know your directions
A compass or phone app helps you find what's rising in the east versus setting in the west through the night.
Constellations by Season
Northern Hemisphere, early-to-mid evening viewing.
Winter
Orion — the easiest constellation to find, thanks to its three-star belt. Follow the belt down-left to Sirius, the sky's brightest star.
Spring
Leo — look for a backwards question mark of stars marking the lion's head and mane, with Regulus at the base.
Summer
Cygnus — the "Northern Cross" flies along the Milky Way, with bright Deneb marking its tail.
Autumn
Cassiopeia — a bold letter "W" (or "M") of five stars, circling the North Star opposite the Big Dipper.