What is that bright light in the sky?
Most likely a planet: Saturn in the evening, Jupiter before dawn.
Of the 56 northern-hemisphere cities we computed, the brightest planet up an hour and a half after dusk is Saturn in 56, and an hour before dawn it is Jupiter in 56. From Australia, New Zealand and South Africa: Saturn in the evening and Jupiter before dawn. A bright, steady 'star' that does not move across the sky in minutes is almost always a planet. If it moves steadily and crosses the sky in a few minutes, it is a satellite, most often the space station.
Computed 5 Nov 2026, 00:21 UTC: planet positions from JPL DE440, satellite passes from CelesTrak orbit data. Refreshed every 6 hours.
Tell it apart in 10 seconds
Venus or Jupiter if very bright. Rises and sets slowly with the stars.
Low on the horizon the air makes stars like Sirius flash red, green and blue.
Very bright: the ISS. It can fade out mid-sky as it enters Earth's shadow.
Only in the week or so after a launch.
Often with a steady white landing light near airports.
A grain of dust burning up 80–100 km high.
Tonight's likely suspects
The brightest planet up after dark, and the space station, for six big cities:
| City | Brightest planet tonight | Space station (ISS) |
|---|---|---|
| New York | Venus (before dawn, east-southeast) | Not tonight Next: Monday, Nov 9 at 6:43 pm |
| Los Angeles | Venus (before dawn, east-southeast) | Yes · 5:21 am, look west-southwest up to 13°, ≈ mag -2 |
| Chicago | Venus (before dawn, east-southeast) | Not tonight Next: Tuesday, Nov 10 at 6:30 pm |
| London | Venus (before dawn, east-southeast) | Not tonight No visible pass in the next 8 nights |
| Toronto | Venus (before dawn, east-southeast) | Not tonight Next: Wednesday, Nov 11 at 6:44 pm |
| Sydney | Venus (before dawn, east) | Not tonight No visible pass in the next 8 nights |
Starlink train? Yes: 2 recent Starlink launches still flying in a line. Starlink train tonight
Your own city: planets tonight, ISS tonight, or the live view of what is overhead.
Planets tonight from New York, NY
Shaded: dark sky (Sun 6° or more below the horizon). Bars: at least 5° above the horizon in a dark sky. Dot: highest point.
| Planet | Visible (local time) | Highest in a dark sky | Magnitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venus | 5:40 am–6:00 am | east-southeast, 9° up at 6:00 am | -4.5 |
| Jupiter | 12:30 am–6:00 am | south-southeast, 61° up at 6:00 am | -2.0 |
| Saturn | 5:20 pm–3:10 am | south, 50° up at 9:35 pm | 0.5 |
| Mars | 12:05 am–6:00 am | south-southeast, 64° up at 6:00 am | 0.8 |
Questions
What is the bright star in the sky tonight?
Most likely Saturn. Planets are the brightest star-like points in the night sky after the Moon. The brightest true star is Sirius; low on the horizon it twinkles in flashing colours.
What is the bright light in the western sky in the evening?
Usually Venus when it is an 'evening star', or Jupiter. Check the planets table for your city: it gives the direction and times.
What is a bright light moving slowly across the sky?
A steady light crossing the sky in two to six minutes is a satellite, most often the International Space Station. Blinking lights are aircraft.
What is that light in the sky right now?
Open the live sky view: it shows which satellites are above you this minute, with their direction and height.