SKY · STARGAZING · USA

Is Tonight Good for Stargazing in Seattle?

Clear skies tonight (about 1% cloud) — but a bright Moon (83% lit) will wash out faint stars and the Milky Way tonight.

TONIGHT'S VERDICT · SEATTLE

VerdictClear skies — but a bright Moon

Night cloud1%

MoonWaxing Gibbous · 83%

Dark from8:54 PM

Until5:38 AM

Worth looking for: A great night for the Moon itself, bright planets and the brightest constellations — save the Milky Way and faint targets for a darker night.

Live cloud reading

READING TONIGHT'S SKY…

How dark is the sky over Seattle?

Sky class (estimate)Bortle 8 · City sky

Puget Sound glow at Bortle 7–8; the Cascades and Olympics darken quickly.

Even on the clearest, Moonless night, a bright city sky limits what you can see. For the Milky Way and faint stars from Seattle, you'll want to reach a darker site — see the options below.

Darker skies within reach of Seattle

~3.5 HR DRIVE SOUTH-EASTGoldendale Observatory SPDark-sky observatory park in eastern Washington.

~3 HR + FERRY WESTOlympic National Park (interior)Bortle 2–3 in the remote west.

Dark-sky designations from the International Dark-Sky Association and well-recognised dark regions. Always check access, opening hours and the weather before travelling.

Seattle right now

SKY · TONIGHTEverything up over Seattle tonight EARTH · WEATHERClouds & conditions over Seattle SKY · LIVE MAPCloud cover & the night side over Seattle

More sky over Seattle

SKY · LIVEThe Moon tonight — Seattle SKY · LIVESee the Milky Way — Seattle SKY · LIVEAurora outlook — Seattle SKY · LIVEHow the stargazing rating works

SEE IT ON THE MAP

Live cloud cover over Seattle, on the full map.

Open the live map →