78° UPBoötesthe Herdsman
Looksouthern sky
Anchor starArcturus
How to know itA kite-shaped figure led by Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern spring sky.
SKY · CONSTELLATIONS · USA
Constellations Visible Tonight — Chicago
Tonight over Chicago, 6 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 · CHICAGO
Dark by9:43 PM
Until5:18 AM
High up now6
Never rise here7
Altitudes computed for Chicago (41.9°, -87.6°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Chicago tonight
55° UPUrsa Majorthe Great Bear / the Big Dipper
Looknorth-western sky
Anchor starAlioth
How to know itHome to the Big Dipper (the Plough), whose two end stars point to Polaris, the North Star.
55° UPLyrathe Lyre
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starVega
How to know itSmall but led by Vega, one of the brightest stars in the sky and a corner of the Summer Triangle.
42° UPCygnusthe Swan / the Northern Cross
Looknorth-eastern sky
Anchor starDeneb
How to know itA great cross of stars flying down the summer Milky Way, with brilliant Deneb at its tail.
35° UPLeothe Lion
Lookwestern sky
Anchor starRegulus
How to know itA backwards question-mark (the "Sickle") forms the Lion’s head, anchored by bright Regulus.
25° UPAquilathe Eagle
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
“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 Chicago
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Cassiopeia (~18°, northern) · Scorpius (~18°, southern) · Sagittarius (~8°, south-eastern) · Gemini (~2°, north-western) · Pegasus (~2°, north-eastern) · Andromeda (~0°, north-eastern).
Out of reach from Chicago
At Chicago's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Perseus, Centaurus, Crux, Taurus, Orion, Canis Major, Carina. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Southern Hemisphere.
Chicago right now
More sky over Chicago
SEE IT ON THE MAP
The live sky map shows the day/night line over Chicago in real time.