Some stars are brighter than others. Stars are classified according to their apparent brightness in the magnitude of -6 to 6. Negative values indicate brightest. Sun has a magnitude of -26 or so. While Venus has magnitude of -4 making it the brightest object after Sun and Moon. Let’s check which stars are visible in Surat tonight in the order of their magnitude.
Venus is visible after Sunset. To spot Venus look at towards North-West sky after Sunset. It will be shining bright enough to be seen in the dusk. It’s called as evening star. Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are visible after midnight in the east. So in the evening Venus is the only planet visible this week.
Sirius is the brightest star. Today if you spot Venus and continue to look around in the sky after Sunset, then possibly the second object you will see is Sirius. It is nearly at the same altitude as Venus but towards the West.
| Star | Visibility | Position |
| Sirius | Visible | Towards West after Sunset |
| Canopus | Barely visible | Near horizon towards South. Goes below horizon after Sunset. |
| Rigil Kentaurus | Visible | After 9 PM towards South. |
| Arcturus | Visible | Rises in the East after Sunset & shines brightly whole night |
| Vega | Visible | Rises after 9:30 PM in the North-east sky. |
| Capella | Visible | Visible after Sunset nearby Venus till 9PM or so. |
| Rigel | Barely Visible | Follows Sunset and visible near horizon for sometime. |
| Procyon | Visible | Shines brightly high in sky after Sunset. Visible till midnight. |
| Achernar | Not visible | Below horizon in South whole night |
| Hadar | Visible | Rises barely high enough in the south sky after 9PM. But is bright enough to be spotted. |
| Altair | Visible | Visible near midnight through all night. Rises from East follows Arcturus path. |
| Acrux | Visible | Just slightly above the horizon in exact South. Cannot see if you have buildings around you. |
| Aldebaran | Barely visible | Almost about to set near horizon after Sunset. |
| Antares | Visible | Rises after 9 PM in the South-East sky. My favorite this month. Brightest in Scorpius constellation |
| Spica | Visible | Passes overhead. Visible all night. Brightest in Virgo constellation |
| Pollux | Visible | Visible above Venus along with Castor. |
| Fomalhaut | Barely visible | Barely visible before Sunrise. |
| Deneb | Visible | Rises in the north sky after 11pm following the trajectory similar to Vega |
| Mimosa | Visible | Also called Becrux visible after Sunset near South till midnight. Stays close to horizon. Partners with Hadar, Rigel, Acrux, Gacrux and Decrux |
| Regulus | Visible | Visible overhead after Sunset till midnight in West. Brightest star in Leo constellation |
So you can see many stars in the night sky after Sunset before midnight. By talking a walk after dinner you will be able to see maximum stars.
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