Tonight over Toronto, 7 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 · TORONTO
Dark by10:23 PM
Until5:38 AM
High up now7
Never rise here6
Altitudes computed for Toronto (43.7°, -79.4°) during tonight's dark hours.
High in the sky over Toronto tonight
76° UPBoötesthe Herdsman
Looksouthern sky
Anchor starArcturus
How to know itA kite-shaped figure led by Arcturus, the brightest star of the northern spring sky.
61° 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.
56° 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.
48° UPCygnusthe Swan / the Northern Cross
Lookeastern sky
Anchor starDeneb
How to know itA great cross of stars flying down the summer Milky Way, with brilliant Deneb at its tail.
34° UPLeothe Lion
Lookwestern sky
Anchor starRegulus
How to know itA backwards question-mark (the "Sickle") forms the Lion’s head, anchored by bright Regulus.
30° UPAquilathe Eagle
Looksouth-eastern sky
Anchor starAltair
How to know itBright Altair completes the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb, straddling the celestial equator.
22° UPCassiopeiathe Queen
Looknorth-eastern sky
Anchor starSchedar
How to know itA bright "W" or "M" of five stars, circling the north pole opposite the Big Dipper — useful for finding north.
“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 Toronto
These clear the horizon but stay low, so trees and buildings may hide them: Scorpius (~16°, southern) · Sagittarius (~10°, south-eastern) · Pegasus (~8°, eastern) · Andromeda (~5°, north-eastern) · Gemini (~3°, north-western) · Perseus (~0°, northern).
Out of reach from Toronto
At Toronto's latitude these never climb above the horizon, so you can't see them from here at any time of year: Centaurus, Crux, Taurus, Orion, Canis Major, Carina. To catch them, you'd need to travel toward the Southern Hemisphere.