Tonight from Chicago

Tonight in Chicago, United States, the sun sets at 20:03 local time and astronomical darkness — when even the faintest stars become visible — arrives at 21:59. The moon is in waning crescent phase, 11% illuminated. 3 major planets are above the horizon as night falls. Sunrise comes at 05:30.

At mid-latitudes, night length varies substantially with season; summer offers shorter darkness, winter the longest. Polaris sits roughly at this latitude above the northern horizon, making it a permanent compass for navigation. The Big Dipper, Cassiopeia, and the northern circumpolar stars never set.