Tonight over Miami, 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 · MIAMI
Dark by9:08 PM
Until6:33 AM
High up now8
Never rise here6
Altitudes computed for Miami (25.8°, -80.2°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Miami tonight
85° UPBoötesthe Herdsman
Looknorth-eastern sky
Anchor starArcturus
How to know itA kite-shaped figure led by Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern spring sky.
56° UPLyrathe Lyre
Looknorth-eastern 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.
51° UPLeothe Lion
Lookwestern sky
Anchor starRegulus
How to know itA backwards question-mark (the "Sickle") forms the Lion’s head, anchored by bright Regulus.
50° 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.
39° 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.
36° UPAquilathe Eagle
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
34° UPScorpiusthe Scorpion
Looksouthern sky
Anchor starAntares
How to know itA genuinely scorpion-shaped curve of stars led by red Antares, riding low across the southern summer sky.
24° UPSagittariusthe Archer / the Teapot
Looksouth-eastern 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.
“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 Miami
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Centaurus (~14°, southern) · Gemini (~6°, north-western) · Cassiopeia (~5°, north-eastern) · Crux (~4°, southern) · Pegasus (~1°, eastern).
Out of reach from Miami
At Miami's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Andromeda, Perseus, Canis Major, Carina, Orion, Taurus. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Southern Hemisphere.