Stargazing in New York

True astronomical darkness runs from 12:03 AM to 9:31 AM (9.5 hours) at New York's central latitude — this is the real window when the sky is darkest.

Cloud cover decides whether you can see anything at all, so check a local forecast before you go. In New York, skies are usually clearest after a cold front passes, and higher, drier sites tend to beat valleys and coasts. Hourly cloud outlook →

The Moon is Waning Crescent at 9% illumination. Moonlight shouldn't significantly interfere with deep-sky observing tonight. Full Moon details →

• Jupiter — visible in Leo, toward the East (up to 32° altitude).
• Saturn — visible in Cetus, toward the South (up to 50° altitude).
• Mars — visible in Cancer, toward the East-Southeast (up to 46° altitude).

Draconids is active tonight. A minor, unpredictable shower best watched right after nightfall, unlike most showers which peak before dawn. Full calendar →

Next visible pass: Invalid Date. Live ISS tracker →

Current planetary Kp is 2.7; New York's central latitude needs roughly Kp 8.3 for aurora to become visible. Aurora is unlikely from most of the state tonight at current activity levels. Full Aurora forecast →

Planetary Kp is 2.7 right now. Full space weather conditions →

Darkness and Moon conditions tonight favor deep-sky and Milky Way viewing, assuming clear skies and distance from city lights. This doesn't account for light pollution at your specific spot — a real light-pollution measurement isn't currently available for this location, so use distance from city lights as a practical guide instead. Check Milky Way visibility →

Moonlight is low tonight, which favours the Milky Way and fainter deep-sky objects. 3 planets are realistically observable. Pick a dark site away from city lights and confirm the local cloud forecast before you go.

Adirondack Park, the largest protected area in the lower 48, contains many dark sites far from towns. The Tug Hill Plateau east of Lake Ontario and parts of the Catskill Park also offer much darker skies than the rest of the state.

• Adirondack Park — Six-million-acre protected area with some of the darkest skies in the Northeast.
• Tug Hill Plateau — Sparsely populated upland east of Lake Ontario; frequent lake-effect clouds in winter.
• Catskill Park — Darker skies within a few hours of New York City.

New York City and Long Island (very bright), the Hudson Valley, the upstate cities (Albany, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo), and the Adirondack, Tug Hill and Catskill uplands.

New York City's glow is visible across the southeast of the state. Upstate cities add local glow. The Adirondacks and Tug Hill are the clearest escape.

Visible from Adirondack dark sites roughly May through September, lower in the south than from southern states.

The Perseids are the most reliable; winter showers often lose to cloud and lake-effect snow.

Late summer and early autumn tend to be clearest; winter is often cloudy, especially near the Great Lakes.

The Moon and bright planets can be seen even from Manhattan on clear nights.

Aurora is possible from northern New York during strong geomagnetic storms; the Adirondacks and the St. Lawrence Valley give the best view of the northern horizon.

Adirondack lakes and peaks provide reflections and mountain foregrounds.

Major meteor showers (Quadrantids, Lyrids, Perseids, Geminids), Milky Way core season and any eclipses apply here as they do nationally -- dates shift each year, so check the current calendar.

Bring insect protection in early summer. Mountain roads and trailheads can be icy outside summer.