Stargazing in Washington

True astronomical darkness runs from 3:14 AM to 12:32 PM (9.3 hours) at Washington'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 Washington, 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 29° altitude).
• Saturn — visible in Cetus, toward the South (up to 44° altitude).
• Mars — visible in Cancer, toward the East-Southeast (up to 42° 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; Washington's central latitude needs roughly Kp 6.5 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.

Goldendale Observatory State Park, overlooking the Columbia River Gorge, is a certified International Dark Sky Park with a large public telescope. The eastern Cascade slopes, the Okanogan Highlands and the plains of eastern Washington offer darker, clearer skies.

• Goldendale Observatory State Park — International Dark Sky Park with public telescope programs.
• Okanogan Highlands — Remote north-central region with dark skies and a clear northern horizon for aurora.

The Puget Sound lowlands (bright, cloudy), the Olympic Peninsula and Cascade Mountains, and the drier Columbia Basin and eastern highlands.

The Seattle-Tacoma-Everett corridor is the main source; Spokane and the Tri-Cities glow locally. Most of the east and north is dark.

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

The August Perseids are usually the best bet, falling in the clearest season.

July through September is clearest statewide. Western Washington is often cloudy from October to June.

Summer is best for planets; western Washington's clear spells can be steady but brief.

Washington is one of the better lower-48 states for aurora. During moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storms it can be seen from dark northern sites, and in major storms from across the state.

Mount Rainier, the Palouse hills and Columbia River cliffs make dramatic 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.

Mountain roads may close in winter. Watch the Kp index and solar wind for aurora chances and head east of the Cascades for better odds of clear sky.