Dashboard
Tonight’s sky at a glance
The Dashboard is your starting point for every observing session. It assesses the coming night, charts the visibility of the Sun, Moon and planets over the hours and lists upcoming celestial events.
- When will it be properly dark?
- Will moonlight interfere?
- Which planets will be above 10° after dark?
- What is tonight’s highlight?
Tonight’s outlook
A sentence puts the night in context — “A good night for planets”, for example, or “A night for the Moon”. Alongside it are the start and end of darkness, moonrise and moonset, lunar illumination and the number of planets high enough during darkness. “Tonight” runs from now until the Sun’s next upper culmination, so the assessment also works during polar night and the midnight sun.
Now in the sky
The visibility chart shows the altitude of the Sun, Moon and planets from one hour before to twelve hours after your selected time. Its background follows the sky’s colour, from the horizon below to the zenith above.
Your cards, your order
Events, your selected object, observing lists and alerts: arrange the Dashboard around the way you observe.
| Factors | darkness, moonlight, planetary altitude, events |
|---|---|
| Window | now until the Sun’s next upper culmination |
| Chart | −1 h to +12 h |
The Dashboard, including the outlook and card selection, is part of the full version. Follow the Sun and Moon on their object pages for free.
Frequently asked questions
What does “dark” mean in the Dashboard?
Choose civil, nautical or astronomical darkness in your observing settings. The Dashboard calculates the beginning and end of darkness for that threshold.
Does the Dashboard account for the weather?
It assesses astronomical conditions — darkness, the Moon and planets — independently of cloud cover.
Does it work near the polar circles?
Yes. Because “tonight” extends to the Sun’s next upper culmination, the Dashboard can assess conditions during polar night and the midnight sun as well.
Download Apphemeride
Free to download. The Sun and Moon are always free. Unlock the remaining features with the full version: a one-time purchase after a three-day trial, with no subscription.
