Tonight's sky: Friday, October 30

Here's what's up tonight, worked out for Central Florida, where we're based. The Moon, planets, launches and space weather are much the same across the US. Darkness times and satellite passes are local, so check your own city at https://wthwasthat.com/tonight

Darkness: Sunset is at 6:41 PM. It's dark enough to spot satellites by 7:06 PM and fully dark by 8:01 PM.

Moon: Waning gibbous, 71% lit, rising in the east at 10:53 PM. A big Moon rising orange through haze gets reported more often than you would think.

Planets after dark: Saturn in the east (steady and slightly golden).

Satellite passes over Orlando: a satellite (INTERCOSMOS 25) at 9:33 PM, up to 87°, north to south. A satellite (ORBVIEW 2) at 6:06 AM before dawn, up to 85°, south to north. The International Space Station at 6:59 AM before dawn, up to 15°, northeast to northeast. The space stations are the bright ones: a steady light, no blinking, crossing in a few minutes.

Starlink train: A line of about 26 satellites from a recent launch passes at 8:30 PM. If you see a silent row of lights, that's it.

Launches in the next 24 hours: IRNSS-1L (NVS-03) on GSLV Mk. II at 2:21 PM ET from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, India. Starlink Group 15-18 on Falcon 9 Block 5 at 12:02 AM ET from CA, USA. Times often slip, so check before you head out. A launch within about an hour of sunset or sunrise can leave a glowing "jellyfish" plume. Who can see each launch, city by city: https://wthwasthat.com/launches

Aurora: A geomagnetic storm is forecast (Kp up to 5). Good odds in the northern US and Canada, slim in the South.

Meteor showers: Orionids and Taurids. Best after midnight, away from city lights.

Saw something you can't explain? Report it at https://wthwasthat.com/report and we'll check the sky for that exact minute.