Astronomy Tools
Personal observing shortlist
What Can I See Tonight?
Choose your location, equipment and sky conditions. The planner checks 250 curated deep-sky objects, ranks the best targets and plots them on an interactive beginner sky map.
110 Messier
109 Caldwell
31 Southern highlights
Observing setup
Plan your night
The tool uses astronomical darkness and checks each target throughout the night.
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Object type
Catalogue
Weather is not included in target ranking. Check the Clear Sky Indicator before setting up.
Checking the sky
Calculating altitude, darkness and Moon impact for 250 objects…
Unable to build the observing list
Please check the selected settings.
Your observing shortlist
Cape Town tonight
Calculating the best targets for your setup…
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recommended targets
Sky map
See where tonight's recommended targets are at a selected time. The edge is the horizon and the centre is directly overhead.
Compass view: N top, E right. Face the labelled direction; objects nearer the centre are higher in the sky.
Solar System tonight
Moon and planets that rise above your selected minimum altitude during the observing window.
No targets match these filters
Try a lower minimum altitude, larger equipment category, darker sky setting or a broader object filter.
How recommendations work
Planning guidance, not a visibility guarantee
Position: each catalogue object is checked throughout astronomical darkness using its J2000 coordinates.
Suitability: ranking considers altitude, time above the horizon, equipment, sky brightness and Moon interference.
Conditions: cloud, haze, smoke, seeing and local obstructions can still prevent a target from being visible.