Tonight's sky: Thursday, November 5

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 5:37 PM. It's dark enough to spot satellites by 6:01 PM and fully dark by 6:57 PM.

Moon: Waning crescent, 11% lit, rising in the east at 4:10 AM.

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

Satellite passes over Orlando: No space station passes in view tonight. Fainter ones you can catch from a dark spot: a spent rocket stage (SL-16 R/B) at 6:49 PM, up to 77°, northwest to south. A satellite (ORBVIEW 2) at 4:57 AM before dawn, up to 74°, south to north. A spent rocket stage (H-2A R/B) at 4:58 AM before dawn, up to 81°, south to north.

Starlink train: A line of about 10 satellites from a recent launch passes at 6:31 PM. If you see a silent row of lights, that's it.

Launches in the next 24 hours: Starlink Group 15-21 on Falcon 9 Block 5 at 9:21 PM 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: Quiet (Kp 0.7), 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.