Tonight over Santiago, 12 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 · SANTIAGO
Dark by6:57 PM
Until7:42 AM
High up now12
Never rise here3
Altitudes computed for Santiago (-33.4°, -70.7°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Santiago tonight
86° UPScorpiusthe Scorpion
Looknorth-eastern sky
Anchor starAntares
How to know itA genuinely scorpion-shaped curve of stars led by red Antares, riding low across the southern summer sky.
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.
54° UPAquilathe Eagle
Looknorthern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
37° 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.
29° UPOrionthe Hunter
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starRigel / Betelgeuse
How to know itThe most recognisable constellation on Earth — the three-star Belt sits almost on the celestial equator, so nearly everyone can see it.
28° UPCarinathe Keel
Looksouth-eastern 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.
27° UPTaurusthe Bull
Looknorth-eastern sky
Anchor starAldebaran
How to know itMarked by orange Aldebaran and the tiny, sparkling Pleiades star cluster on the Bull’s shoulder.
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.
22° UPCanis Majorthe Great Dog
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starSirius
How to know itContains Sirius, the brightest star in the entire night sky, trailing just behind Orion.
20° UPLyrathe Lyre
Looknorthern 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.
“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 Santiago
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Andromeda (~19°, northern) · Cygnus (~15°, northern) · Leo (~13°, north-western) · Perseus (~9°, northern).
Out of reach from Santiago
At Santiago's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Cassiopeia, Gemini, Ursa Major. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Northern Hemisphere.