TONIGHT IN DES MOINES, IA · MONDAY, AUGUST 31 · SUNSET 7:49 PM
One to skip, the Moon isn't at its best.
Climbs highest around 4:29 AM if you're still up.
Tonight's sky in Des Moines is one to skip for the Moon: even at 83% lit and up around 10:59 PM, 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 Des Moines's exact coordinates and tonight's forecast.
See the Moon’s full night →WANING GIBBOUS · 83% LIT · SETS 11:39 AM
best window · waning gibbous, 83% lit
Better to wait: it is mostly cloudy and it sits low in the sky.
- Mostly cloudy (100%)
- Low in the sky (18° up)
- Altitude64° · High in sky
- Moon phase83% lit · waning gibbous
- Cloud cover100% · Overcast
- Sky darknessBortle 7 · Suburban–urban transition
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 10:59 PM local time tonight, 83% lit with 100% cloud cover forecast at that hour. It climbs a little higher later, around 4:29 AM.
What else is visible tonight from Des Moines?
Beyond the Moon: Venus (best 7:49 PM · 14° up in the WSW), Saturn (best 10:59 PM · 19° up in the ESE), Mars (best 5:29 AM · 37° up in the E), Jupiter (best 6:09 AM · 17° up in the E). Times and directions are computed for Des Moines, IA.
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 Des Moines?
Forecast says 100% cloud cover at the Moon's best time (52% average across the night). Tonight looks mostly blocked; the nights-ahead ribbon shows the next clearer night.
How dark is Des Moines's night sky?
Des Moines's city-center sky rates about Bortle 7 of 9 (suburban–urban transition). Edge-of-city sky: the brightest constellations still stand out, and darker skies are a short drive away. 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.