Stargazing in Flagstaff, AZ

Local time 4:25 am MST 35.19° N, 111.62° W Forecast: National Weather Service
Location reference: Flagstaff, Arizona

United States · America/Phoenix · 35.1852, -111.6207

Use this city or town reference for local sky planning. Check access, light pollution and the horizon at your chosen observing site.

Tonight in Flagstaff

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Stay in tonight. Cloud cover averages 87% over the dark window, with about 8.9 hours of moonless darkness.

Best window 3:00 am – 6:00 am

Dark6:49 pm – 5:32 am
Cloud87%
Moon22% lit
Astronomical darkness10 hr 44 minAstronomical
Moonless darkness8 hr 53 min78% unlit
Feels like29°FWind 17 mph
Forecast retrieved4:10 amData: National Weather Service

Tonight's reasoning

Every point accounted for
  • negativeHeavy cloud: 87% average cover. Plan on gaps rather than a clear sky.
  • positiveA long 10.7-hour night of astronomical darkness.
  • positiveThe Moon is 22% lit and above the horizon for 1 h 51 min, leaving 8 h 53 min moonless.
  • negative54% chance of precipitation during the dark window.
  • negativeGusts to 30 mph can shake a telescope.
  • neutralIt may feel near 29°F. Dress in layers.
  • negativeVery humid air can cause dew on lenses.

See how the score is weighted →

Cloud samples through the observing night

Mostly cloudy

Forecast samples are 60 minutes apart at the coarsest point shown. Missing values are not clear skies. Coarse or incomplete data does not produce a detailed observing recommendation.

Read the forecast samples as a table
Local timeCloudTemperatureWind
Fri 19:00 MST———
Fri 20:00 MST———
Fri 21:00 MST76%40°F13 mph
Fri 22:00 MST85%39°F14 mph
Fri 23:00 MST92%39°F15 mph
Sat 00:00 MST95%38°F16 mph
Sat 01:00 MST91%38°F16 mph
Sat 02:00 MST90%37°F16 mph
Sat 03:00 MST92%36°F16 mph
Sat 04:00 MST81%35°F17 mph
Sat 05:00 MST79%35°F17 mph

Planets from dusk to dawn

Sun at least 6° below the horizon
Mars well placed · S · 70° · 6:31 am
Jupiter well placed · S · 68° · 6:31 am
Saturn well placed · S · 56° · 9:15 pm
Venus low in the sky · ESE · 21° · 6:31 am
Mercury low in the sky · ESE · 10° · 6:31 am

These are geometric opportunities in evening, night or morning twilight, subject to weather. We require an altitude of at least 10°. Terrain and buildings can block the view.

Stars to find by eye

No telescope required
Capella · above 15° Auriga · NE · 65°

A golden star in the constellation Auriga. Use the listed direction and altitude for this location.

Betelgeuse · above 15° Orion · ESE · 44°

The orange shoulder of Orion. Look below it for three stars in a short, straight line.

Polaris · above 15° Ursa Minor · N · 36°

Find the two stars at the end of the Big Dipper bowl; follow that line north. Polaris sits almost still while the sky turns.

Deneb · above 15° Cygnus · NW · 19°

The tail of Cygnus the Swan and the faintest corner of the Summer Triangle.

The next 7 nights

Full month →

Moon and darkness use local astronomical calculations. Weather becomes less reliable further out. Scores are withheld for old, incomplete or coarse forecasts.

Do not drive out on a hunch

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About this forecast

Astronomy is calculated for Flagstaff at 35.1852° N, 111.6207° W. Weather comes from National Weather Service. A city forecast cannot resolve every mountain, fog bank or nearby floodlight. Calculated times use a modelled horizon and are approximate.

Provider issue time: Sat, Nov 14 · 3:13 am. Sources and forecast limitations.

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