Stargazing in Indianapolis, IN

Local time 6:35 am EST 39.78° N, 86.15° W Forecast: National Weather Service
Location reference: Indianapolis, Indiana

United States · America/Indiana/Indianapolis · 39.7767, -86.1459

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

Tonight in Indianapolis

Weather detail is limited for this night

Forecast pending
—of 100

Weather detail is limited for this night. Moon and darkness times are still useful for planning; check back for the cloud forecast.

Dark7:03 pm – 5:54 am
Cloud63%
Moon21% lit
Astronomical darkness10 hr 52 minAstronomical
Moonless darkness9 hr 17 min79% unlit
Feels like30°FWind 6 mph
Forecast retrieved6:00 amData: National Weather Service

Tonight's reasoning

Every point accounted for
  • neutralAging, incomplete or coarse forecast data cannot support a detailed observing recommendation.
  • positive10 h 52 min of astronomical darkness.
  • positiveThe Moon is 21% lit and above the horizon for 1 h 35 min, leaving 9 h 17 min moonless.

See how the score is weighted →

Cloud samples through the observing night

Partly 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 20:00 EST———
Fri 21:00 EST———
Fri 22:00 EST———
Fri 23:00 EST75%36°F5 mph
Sat 00:00 EST72%37°F5 mph
Sat 01:00 EST69%36°F6 mph
Sat 02:00 EST65%35°F6 mph
Sat 03:00 EST61%34°F6 mph
Sat 04:00 EST57%33°F6 mph
Sat 05:00 EST43%32°F6 mph

Planets from dusk to dawn

Sun at least 6° below the horizon
Mars well placed · S · 65° · 6:58 am
Jupiter well placed · S · 64° · 6:58 am
Saturn well placed · S · 51° · 9:59 pm
Venus low in the sky · ESE · 20° · 6:58 am
Mercury low in the sky · ESE · 10° · 6:58 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 · ENE · 67°

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

Betelgeuse · above 15° Orion · ESE · 42°

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

Polaris · above 15° Ursa Minor · N · 40°

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 · 22°

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 Indianapolis at 39.7767° N, 86.1459° 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 · 5:45 am. Sources and forecast limitations.

Astronomy model 2026.10.3 · Scoring methodology · Privacy