What Planet Is in the Sky Tonight?

Start with brightness and steadiness

Venus and Jupiter can be brighter than every star. Mars can look warm orange, while Saturn is usually steadier and softer. A planet often shines with less twinkle than nearby stars, though low altitude can still make it shimmer.

Check the Moon and ecliptic path

The Moon and planets stay near the same broad path across the sky. If the object is near the Moon’s path or near other planet markers, it is more likely to be a planet than a random bright star.

Use location and time

A planet that is visible in one country can be below the horizon elsewhere. Use your current location or manual coordinates so the sky map calculates which planets are above your horizon right now.

Confirm with AR

Open the AR viewer outside, select planets in the filters, and compare the planet marker with the bright object. Adjust alignment if the phone compass drifts.

How to apply this guide outside

Read the What Planet Is in the Sky Tonight guide first, then choose one practical thing to verify in the real sky before opening the AR viewer.

Good AR observing is slow. Move the phone gradually, pause when labels appear, and compare one bright reference at a time.

If the overlay is slightly shifted, use the alignment controls before drawing conclusions from fainter labels or crowded areas.

Why the result changes by device

Different phones and browsers expose camera, compass, and motion data with different accuracy and timing.

The astronomy positions are calculated from time and location, while final screen alignment depends on sensor quality. This is why the app includes manual heading controls and object filters.