Abuja, Nigeria
The sky above Abuja tonight
It is dark in Abuja right now. The next night begins around 6:54 PM. The moon is 48% lit.
What to look for
The space station
Tomorrow, 7:59 PMA bright overhead pass. It rises in the southwest and sails almost straight above you.
Space station·Peaks 71° up · 6 min·6 min
Seven astronauts, four hundred kilometres up, moving at eight kilometres a second. It looks like a bright star that refuses to twinkle, sliding silently across the sky. Start watching low in the southwest a minute early; it will climb to high in the east, then fade out as it enters Earth's shadow near the northeast. No telescope, no app pointed at the sky, just look up.
Jupiter
Any time it's darkJupiter is out, low in the east. Steady, creamy white, unmistakable.
Planet·Magnitude -2.0, sets later
Find Jupiter low in the east. No telescope needed, just your eyes; planets don't twinkle the way stars do, they hold a steady, unwavering light. The light reaching your eye left Jupiter about 46 minutes ago.
The moon
Rises tomorrow, 1:24 AMA last quarter, 48% lit.
Moon·Last quarter, 48%
It rises later tonight, so the early hours stay dark and clear. That sharp line splitting its light from its dark, the terminator, is where the sun is setting on the moon right now. You're watching a lunar sunset in slow motion.
Mars
Any time it's darkMars is out, low in the east. A distinct rusty red.
Planet·Magnitude 0.9, sets later
Find Mars low in the east. No telescope needed, just your eyes; planets don't twinkle the way stars do, they hold a steady, unwavering light. The light reaching your eye left Mars about 12 minutes ago.
Saturn
Any time it's darkSaturn is out, low in the west. A soft gold; its rings need a small telescope.
Planet·Magnitude 0.4, sets later
Find Saturn low in the west. No telescope needed, just your eyes; planets don't twinkle the way stars do, they hold a steady, unwavering light. The light reaching your eye left Saturn about 71 minutes ago.
On the horizon
The Leonids peak
In 14 nights, up to 15 meteors an hour: quick meteors capable of rare, dramatic storms.
All times are local to Abuja. Last updated at 2:52 AM.
Live countdowns, a compass showing where to point, and an alert a few minutes before the space station passes over. Free, no signup.