Those of us who enjoy stargazing and observing the night sky can't always plan when and where we're going to get the chance to gaze upwards.

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Busy schedules, light pollution, the weather: sometimes finding even just 30 minutes to stand and stare up at a clear, dark night sky and take in the planets, stars and constellations can be a feat in itself.

So when you do find the time, you'll need to know what's visible in the night sky, and the best things to look out for when stargazing.

Complete newcomer? Read our guides to the best telescopes for beginners and astronomy for beginners.

Milky Way over Namthing Pokhri Lake Basudeb Chakrabarti, West Bengal, India, 13 March 2022 Equipment: Nikon D5200 DSLR, Tokina 11–16mm lens, tripod
Milky Way over Namthing Pokhri Lake Basudeb Chakrabarti, West Bengal, India, 13 March 2022 Equipment: Nikon D5200 DSLR, Tokina 11–16mm lens, tripod

Here's our stargazing guide to what you can see in the night sky tonight. Our guide is centred around what's visible from the UK, but all northern hemisphere observers should be able to use it, with the odd adjustment to stated times.

In our guide, we use Universal Time (UT) and British Summer Time (BST). UT is the standard time used by astronomers around the world. BST is one hour ahead of UT

We also use RA (Right ascension) and dec. (declination). These coordinates are the night sky’s equivalent of longitude and latitude, describing where an object is on the celestial ‘globe’. For help with these, read our guide to celestial coordinates.

For more advice, read our guide on how to stargaze or sign up to receive the BBC Sky at Night Magazine e-newsletter for weekly tips delivered directly to your email inbox.

What's visible in the night sky tonight?

Saturday 27 May

The region around the Moon's Aristillus Crater. Credit: Pete Lawrence
The region around the Moon's Aristillus Crater. Credit: Pete Lawrence

The clair-obscur effect known as the Stars of Aristillus is visible this evening. It occurs when the central peaks within crater Aristillus catch the early light of the lunar dawn.

How to see it:

  • Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Monday 29 May

Clair obscur effect jewelled handle
The clair obscure effect on the Moon known as the Jewelled Handle. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Mercury reaches greatest western elongation, separated from the Sun by 24.9° in the morning sky.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

ALSO

The Jewelled Handle clair-obscur effect is visible on the Moon tonight.

Tuesday 30 May

Phases of Venus by Pete Lawrence
Phases of Venus. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Viewing Venus through a telescope reveals the planet approaching 50% illumination. Venus’s ‘phase anomaly’ means the phase you observe is different to the phase predicted for that date. When do you think Venus looks 50%-illuminated?

How to see it:

  • Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Wednesday 31 May

As it approaches setting, Mars will be just to the west of the Beehive Cluster, M44. The planet is due to pass in front of the cluster in early June.

How to see it

  • Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Thursday 1 June

Noctilucent clouds captured on 6 July 2016. Credit: Mary McIntyre
Noctilucent clouds captured on 6 July 2016. Credit: Mary McIntyre

June and July are the best months for spotting noctilucent clouds, and you can see them all month.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Friday 2 June

Chart showing the locations of Mars, Venus and the Beehive Cluster in June 2023. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Chart showing the locations of Mars, Venus and the Beehive Cluster in June 2023. Credit: Pete Lawrence

Compromised by twilight, mag. +1.6 Mars passes in front of the Beehive Cluster, M44, this evening.

How to see it

  • Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Saturday 3 June

chart showing the position of star antares in the night sky
Credit: Pete Lawrence

The mag. +1.0 red supergiant Antares (Alpha (α) Scorpii) appears one apparent lunar diameter south of the full Moon’s southern limb at 23:15 BST (22:15 UT).

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Sunday 4 June

Venus reaches greatest eastern elongation, appearing separated from the Sun by 45.4° in the evening sky.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Monday 5 June

A look at the northeast limb of the Moon this morning should show the parallel line clair-obscur effect known as the Zeno Steps, near crater Zeno.

How to see it:

  • Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Tuesday 6 June

Labelled diagram of Crater Gutenberg
Credit: Pete Lawrence

There’s a great opportunity this and tomorrow morning to spot the crater Gutenberg on the Moon. Also look out for it on the evening of 22 June.

How to see it:

  • Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Thursday 8 June

As the Moon moves out of the way, this is a great time to get observing deep-sky objects.

How to see it:

  • Large scope: Reflector/SCT over 6 inches, refractor over 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Tuesday 13 June

M44 - Behive Cluster ("Praesepe") in Cancer by Bill McSorley, Leeds, UK. Equipment: SW 150P Newtonian, HEQ5Pro Mount, QHY8L cooled ccd.
The Beehive Cluster by Bill McSorley

Venus is north of the Beehive Cluster, M44, this evening. The best chance to see the pairing is just before Venus sets.

How to see it

  • Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Wednesday 14 June

A 15%-lit waning crescent Moon sits 0.6° to the north of Jupiter in the early hours. See whether you can observe the planet using binoculars after the Sun has risen.

How to see it

  • Binoculars: 10x50 recommended
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Friday 16 June

Minor planet 20 Massalia reaches opposition at 10th magnitude in Ophiuchus.

How to see it:

  • Small/medium scope: Reflector/SCT under 6 inches, refractor under 4 inches
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Saturday 17 June

Sunrise
Credit: Vik898 / Getty

The earliest sunrise of 2023 occurs today, when the Sun rises at 04:38 BST (03:38 UT) (time from the centre of the UK), just a few seconds earlier than on the surrounding days.

Sunday 18 June

Deneb is a member of the Summer Triangle and the Northern Cross asterisms. Credit: Pete Lawrence
Credit: Pete Lawrence

Although there’s not much real darkness at this time of year, bright patterns such as the Summer Triangle asterism stand out very well.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Wednesday 21 June

Today at 15:58 BST (14:58 UT) is the Northern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, the point at which the Sun reaches its most northerly position in the sky.

Thursday 22 June

Today a 16%-lit waxing crescent Moon rises around 09:00 BST (08:00 UT), 4.2° from mag. –4.3 Venus. Mars is also 3.4° south of the crescent Moon.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Friday 23 June

A chart showing the location of the Teapot asterism
Credit: Pete Lawrence

Can you make out the shape of the Teapot asterism, low above the southern horizon around 01:40 BST (00:40 UT)?

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR

Friday 30 June

Mag. –4.3 Venus is 3.6° from mag. +1.7 Mars, low on the west-northwest horizon shortly after sunset.

How to see it:

  • Naked eye: Allow 20 minutes for your eyes to become dark-adapted
  • Photo opp: Use a CCD, planetary camera or standard DSLR
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This guide originally appeared in the May 2023 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

Authors

Pete Lawrence, astronomer and BBC The Sky at Night presenter.
Pete LawrenceAstronomer and presenter

Pete Lawrence is an experienced astronomer and astrophotographer, and a presenter on BBC's The Sky at Night.

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