TONIGHT IN RICHMOND, VA · MONDAY, AUGUST 31 · SUNSET 7:40 PM
A great night to spot the Moon.
Climbs highest around 4:20 AM if you're still up.
Tonight's sky in Richmond is headlined by the Moon: a Great night, with the waning gibbous Moon 83% lit and best around 10:50 PM local time, under 2% forecast cloud cover. Saturn, Mars and more are also up tonight. Every time and percentage here is computed for Richmond's exact coordinates and tonight's forecast.
See the Moon’s full night →WANING GIBBOUS · 83% LIT · SETS 11:22 AM
best window · waning gibbous, 83% lit
Good night to look: skies look clear, but it sits low; find a spot with an open horizon.
- Clear skies
- Low in the sky (17° up)
- Altitude68° · High in sky
- Moon phase83% lit · waning gibbous
- Cloud cover2% · Clear
- 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 10:50 PM local time tonight, 83% lit with 2% cloud cover forecast at that hour. It climbs a little higher later, around 4:20 AM.
What else is visible tonight from Richmond?
Beyond the Moon: Saturn (best 10:50 PM · 19° up in the ESE), Mars (best 5:40 AM · 40° up in the E), Jupiter (best 6:00 AM · 16° up in the E), Venus (best 7:40 PM · 17° up in the WSW). Times and directions are computed for Richmond, VA.
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 Richmond?
Forecast says 2% cloud cover at the Moon's best time (22% average across the night). A bright Moon also cuts through thin haze with ease.
How dark is Richmond's night sky?
Richmond'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.