86° 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.
SKY · CONSTELLATIONS · SOUTH AFRICA
Constellations Visible Tonight — Cape Town
Tonight over Cape Town, 8 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 · CAPE TOWN
Dark by7:03 PM
Until7:48 AM
High up now8
Never rise here6
Altitudes computed for Cape Town (-33.9°, 18.4°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Cape Town tonight
84° 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.
67° UPCentaurusthe Centaur
Looksouth-western sky
Anchor starAlpha Centauri
How to know itHolds Alpha Centauri, the closest star system to the Sun, and wraps around the Southern Cross.
55° UPCruxthe Southern Cross
Looksouth-western 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.
53° UPAquilathe Eagle
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
36° 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° UPBoötesthe Herdsman
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starArcturus
How to know itA kite-shaped figure led by Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern spring sky.
23° 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.
“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 Cape Town
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Lyra (~19°, northern) · Andromeda (~15°, northern) · Cygnus (~14°, northern) · Leo (~13°, north-western) · Taurus (~1°, eastern).
Out of reach from Cape Town
At Cape Town's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Orion, Cassiopeia, Perseus, Canis Major, Ursa Major, Gemini. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Northern Hemisphere.
Cape Town right now
More sky over Cape Town
SEE IT ON THE MAP
The live sky map shows the day/night line over Cape Town in real time.