Tonight's sky: Monday, November 2

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 5:39 PM. It's dark enough to spot satellites by 6:03 PM and fully dark by 6:59 PM.

Moon: Last quarter, 38% lit, rising in the east at 1:13 AM.

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

Satellite passes over Orlando: a spent rocket stage (SL-6 R/B) at 7:17 PM, up to 84°, northwest to southeast. A satellite (ORBVIEW 2) at 5:02 AM before dawn, up to 84°, south to north. The International Space Station at 5:11 AM before dawn, up to 26°, north to east. The space stations are the bright ones: a steady light, no blinking, crossing in a few minutes.

Starlink train: A line of about 5 satellites from a recent launch passes at 6:33 PM. If you see a silent row of lights, that's it.

Launches in the next 24 hours: The Sea God Surveys (iQPS Launch 9) on Electron at 11:41 AM ET from Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand. SpaceSail Polar Group TBD? on Kinetica 2 at 7:10 PM ET from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China. 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: Quiet (Kp 1.7), so only the far north has a chance.

Meteor showers: Orionids and Taurids. Best 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.