Night sky tonight in Columbus, Ohio
Thursday, October 29, 2026 · local time (America/New York)
Fully dark from 8:04 PM to 6:28 AM.
Planets visible tonight
| Mars | 1:18 AM – 7:31 AM |
|---|---|
| Jupiter | 1:52 AM – 7:31 AM |
| Saturn | 7:01 PM – 5:43 AM |
Times run from dusk (or when the planet rises) until it sets or dawn breaks. Direction is where to look when it first appears.
Light pollution
Very high artificial light in central Columbus: 118.3 nW/cm²/sr, brighter than 85% of the cities we cover.
Nearest dark area: about 181 km southeast of the city centre, about 48 km from Parkersburg (38.842°, -81.475°). The ground there gives off almost no artificial light, and nor do its surroundings, so the night sky is far darker than in Columbus.
Measured from space: NASA Black Marble VNP46A4 2025 annual composite (snow-free), NASA. This is light emitted upward from the ground at night, not a direct reading of sky brightness. A “dark area” here means a spot below 0.3 nW/cm²/sr whose surroundings, out to about 41 km, average below 0.5.
International Space Station passes
| Date | Appears | Visible for | Max height | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 30 | 6:07 AM | 3 min | 21° | north → east |
| Sat, Oct 31 | 6:55 AM | 6 min | 67° | northwest → southeast |
| Sun, Nov 1 | 5:10 AM | 3 min | 41° | northeast → east |
| Mon, Nov 2 | 5:57 AM | 5 min | 39° | west → southeast |
| Tue, Nov 3 | 5:12 AM | 3 min | 44° | southeast → southeast |
| Wed, Nov 4 | 6:00 AM | 2 min | 13° | southwest → southwest |
Visible passes at least 10° above the horizon, from today’s orbital elements (CelesTrak). Max height 90° is straight overhead. The station looks like a bright, steady, fast-moving star; times can shift by a minute or two as its orbit is adjusted.
Upcoming meteor showers
| Shower | Peak | Rate/hr* | Active | Conditions here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Taurids | Thu, Nov 5, 2026 | 7 | Sep 20 – Nov 20 | Dark moon (12%): good conditions |
| Northern Taurids | Thu, Nov 12, 2026 | 5 | Oct 20 – Dec 10 | Dark moon (11%): good conditions |
| Leonids | Tue, Nov 17, 2026 | 15 | Nov 6 – Nov 30 | Moon 55% lit |
| Geminids | Mon, Dec 14, 2026 | 150 | Dec 4 – Dec 20 | Dark moon (25%): good conditions |
| Ursids | Tue, Dec 22, 2026 | 10 | Dec 17 – Dec 26 | Bright moon (98%) washes out faint meteors |
| Quadrantids | Sun, Jan 3, 2027 | 80 | Dec 28 – Jan 12 | Dark moon (12%): good conditions |
| Lyrids | Thu, Apr 22, 2027 | 18 | Apr 14 – Apr 30 | Bright moon (95%) washes out faint meteors |
| Eta Aquariids | Thu, May 6, 2027 | 50 | Apr 19 – May 28 | Dark moon (0%): good conditions |
*Zenithal hourly rate: meteors per hour under a perfectly dark sky with the radiant overhead; expect fewer. Peak dates and rates from the International Meteor Organization working list.
Eclipses visible from Columbus
- Penumbral lunar eclipse — Tue, Aug 17, 2027, maximum at 3:14 AM (Moon 32° above the horizon)