TONIGHT IN CHICAGO, IL · FRIDAY, JULY 10 · SUNSET 8:26 PM
One to skip, the Moon isn't at its best.
Only really up after midnight: highest around 5:06 AM.
Tonight's sky in Chicago is one to skip for the Moon: even at 13% lit and up around 5:06 AM, conditions score poorly, with 100% cloud cover in the forecast. Venus, Saturn 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 CRESCENT · 13% LIT · SETS 4:57 PM
best window · waning crescent, 13% lit
Only really up in the small hours tonight — the Moon is highest around 5:06 AM, past a family-friendly bedtime. Worth a look if you're already awake.
- Mostly cloudy (100%)
- Well-placed (30° up)
- Best after twilight ends
- Altitude30° · Mid sky
- Moon phase13% lit · waning crescent
- Cloud cover100% · 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?
Tonight the Moon is only really up in the small hours: it climbs highest around 5:06 AM local time, 13% lit with 100% cloud cover forecast at that hour.
What else is visible tonight from Chicago?
Beyond the Moon: Venus (best 8:26 PM · 24° up in the W), Saturn (best 4:26 AM · 43° up in the SE), Mars (best 4:06 AM · 15° up in the ENE), Jupiter (best 8:56 PM · 2° up in the WNW). 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 100% cloud cover at the Moon's best time (99% 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.