Night Sky

The night sky is the nighttime appearance of celestial objects like stars, planets, and the Moon, which are visible in a clear sky between sunset and sunrise, when the Sun is below the horizon. Natural light sources in a night sky include moonlight, starlight, and airglow, depending on location and timing. Aurorae light up the skies above the polar circles. Occasionally, a large coronal mass ejection from the Sun or simply high levels of solar wind may extend the phenomenon toward the Equator. The night sky and studies of it have a historical place in both ancient and modern cultures. In the past, for instance, farmers have used the status of the night sky as a calendar to determine when to plant crops. Many cultures have drawn constellations between stars in the sky, using them in association with legends and mythology about their deities.

Read more in the app

SpaceX Rocket Launch Creates a Glowing Spiral in Night Sky

SpaceX Rocket Launch Creates Glowing Spiral in the Night Sky for Europe

March’s Night Sky Notes: Messier Madness

How to See the Planet Parade as Seven Planets Align in the Night Sky

See Mercury at its best in the night sky over the next 2 weeks

Astrophotographer captures 'rare' planetary parade as 7 planets align in the night sky (photo)

Exoplanetary parade: What would the night sky look like on alien worlds? (op-ed)

7 planets are aligned in the night sky right now. But what's that mean for science?

The Winter Triangle meets the 'Mars Triangle' in the night sky this month

February’s Night Sky Notes: How Can You Help Curb Light Pollution?

How to see all the solar system’s planets in the night sky at once

How to see a 'planet parade' of 4 bright planets in January's night sky (video)

Astronomers are Losing the Night Sky (and Radio Sky) to Satellite Megaconstellations

Venus and the moon light up the night sky in gorgeous photos from around the world

Comet set to outshine Venus in the night sky

Astronomers are Losing the Night Sky (and Radio Sky) to Satellite Megaconstellations

Astronomers are Losing the Night Sky (and Radio Sky) to Satellite Megaconstellations

January’s Night Sky Notes: The Red Planet

NOIRLab Releases High-Resolution Images of 88 Constellations and Colossal Photo of Night Sky

Venus, Mars and more: How to see planets in the night sky in 2025