Tonight over Adelaide, 10 of the bright, easy-to-spot constellations climb high into a dark sky. Here's what's up, how high, and which way to face.
DARK-SKY WINDOW TONIGHT · ADELAIDE
Dark by6:11 PM
Until7:26 AM
High up now10
Never rise here5
Altitudes computed for Adelaide (-34.9°, 138.6°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Adelaide tonight
85° UPScorpiusthe Scorpion
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starAntares
How to know itA genuinely scorpion-shaped curve of stars led by red Antares, riding low across the southern summer sky.
83° UPSagittariusthe Archer / the Teapot
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starKaus Australis
How to know itIts bright stars form a "Teapot" — and it points straight at the dense, glowing centre of the Milky Way.
75° UPCentaurusthe Centaur
Looksouthern sky
Anchor starAlpha Centauri
How to know itHolds Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Sun, and wraps around the Southern Cross.
65° UPCruxthe Southern Cross
Looksouthern sky
Anchor starAcrux
How to know itThe smallest constellation, but the most famous in the south — its long axis points toward the south celestial pole.
52° UPAquilathe Eagle
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
45° UPCarinathe Keel
Looksouth-western sky
Anchor starCanopus
How to know itHome to Canopus, the second-brightest star in the sky, and the spectacular Carina Nebula — a far-southern jewel.
37° UPLeothe Lion
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starRegulus
How to know itA backwards question-mark (the "Sickle") forms the Lion’s head, anchored by bright Regulus.
35° UPPegasusthe Winged Horse
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starMarkab
How to know itThe "Great Square" of Pegasus is a big, easy autumn signpost high in the eastern sky.
26° UPCanis Majorthe Great Dog
Lookwestern sky
Anchor starSirius
How to know itContains Sirius, the brightest star in the entire night sky, trailing just behind Orion.
25° UPBoötesthe Herdsman
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starArcturus
How to know itA kite-shaped figure led by Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern spring sky.
“Up” is the highest the centre of each pattern gets above the horizon tonight — your fist at arm's length spans about 10°. Directions are where to face when it's best placed.
Low on the horizon from Adelaide
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Lyra (~18°, northern) · Andromeda (~15°, northern) · Cygnus (~13°, northern) · Taurus (~1°, north-eastern).
Out of reach from Adelaide
At Adelaide's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Orion, Ursa Major, Gemini, Perseus, Cassiopeia. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Northern Hemisphere.