TONIGHT IN CHICAGO, IL · MONDAY, AUGUST 31 · SUNSET 7:25 PM
One to skip, the Moon isn't at its best.
Climbs highest around 4:05 AM if you're still up.
Tonight's sky in Chicago is one to skip for the Moon: even at 83% lit and up around 10:55 PM, conditions score poorly, with 96% cloud cover in the forecast. Mars, Jupiter and more are also up tonight. Every time and percentage here is computed for Chicago's exact coordinates and tonight's forecast.
See the Moon’s full night →WANING GIBBOUS · 83% LIT · SETS 11:15 AM
best window · waning gibbous, 83% lit
Better to wait: it is mostly cloudy and it sits high enough for a clean view.
- Mostly cloudy (96%)
- Well-placed (22° up)
- Altitude64° · High in sky
- Moon phase83% lit · waning gibbous
- Cloud cover96% · Overcast
- Sky darknessBortle 9 · Inner-city sky
What else is up tonight
The nights ahead
≈ marks a lower-confidence forecast; check back closer to the night.
Common questions
When exactly should I look tonight?
The Moon is best around 10:55 PM local time tonight, 83% lit with 96% cloud cover forecast at that hour. It climbs a little higher later, around 4:05 AM.
What else is visible tonight from Chicago?
Beyond the Moon: Mars (best 5:05 AM · 37° up in the E), Jupiter (best 5:45 AM · 17° up in the E), Venus (best 7:25 PM · 14° up in the WSW), Saturn (best 10:55 PM · 23° up in the ESE). Times and directions are computed for Chicago, IL.
Do I need a telescope for tonight's sky?
No. The Moon, the bright planets and ISS passes are all naked-eye objects. Binoculars or a small telescope add detail but are never required.
Will clouds get in the way tonight in Chicago?
Forecast says 96% cloud cover at the Moon's best time (54% average across the night). Tonight looks mostly blocked; the nights-ahead ribbon shows the next clearer night.
How dark is Chicago's night sky?
Chicago's city-center sky rates about Bortle 9 of 9 (inner-city sky). Bright inner-city sky: expect only the Moon, planets, and a handful of the very brightest stars. The Moon, planets and the ISS shine right through city glow.
How is the verdict calculated?
It fuses computed astronomy (altitude, phase, darkness) with the hour-by-hour cloud forecast for your exact location, weighted so overcast skies can never score a Good.