Tonight from Chicago

Tonight in Chicago, United States, the sun sets at 19:56 local time and astronomical darkness — when even the faintest stars become visible — arrives at 21:43. The moon is in new phase, 1% illuminated. 3 major planets are above the horizon as night falls. Sunrise comes at 05:55.

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.