Look Up

Osaka, Japan

The sky above Osaka tonight

Tonight Osaka gets dark around 5:59 PM and light again by 5:23 AM. The moon is 48% lit.

What to look for

  • The space station

    Tomorrow, 5:17 AM

    A bright overhead pass. It rises in the northwest and sails almost straight above you.

    Space station·Peaks 74° up · 7 min·7 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 northwest a minute early; it will climb to high in the south, then fade out as it enters Earth's shadow near the southeast. No telescope, no app pointed at the sky, just look up.

  • The space station returns

    Wednesday, 4:29 AM

    It climbs from the northwest, crosses partway up, and sets toward the southeast.

    Space station·Peaks 52° 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 northwest a minute early; it will climb to partway up in the northeast, then fade out as it enters Earth's shadow near the southeast. No telescope, no app pointed at the sky, just look up.

  • The moon

    Rises today, 11:57 PM

    A last quarter, 44% lit.

    Moon·Last quarter, 44%

    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.

  • Saturn

    Any time it's dark

    Saturn is out, low in the east. A soft gold; its rings need a small telescope.

    Planet·Magnitude 0.4, sets later

    Find Saturn 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 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 Osaka. Last updated at 10:52 AM.

Open the live sky for Osaka

Live countdowns, a compass showing where to point, and an alert a few minutes before the space station passes over. Free, no signup.

Nearby skies

Meteor showers from Osaka