---
title: ToolRouter — Tool Detail
description: Detailed documentation for a ToolRouter tool including skills, parameters, and examples.
url: https://toolrouter.com/tools/night-sky
---
# Night Sky

See which planets and stars are visible from any location, get moon phases, sunrise/sunset times, upcoming eclipses, and celestial events like equinoxes, solstices, meteor showers, and asteroid approaches. Data from the US Naval Observatory and NASA JPL.

- **Version:** 0.02
- **Categories:** data

## Skills (5)

### What's Visible (`whats_visible`)

Find which planets and bright stars are visible from a location at a given time. Returns all celestial objects above the horizon with altitude, compass direction, and object type.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `latitude` | number | Yes | Latitude of the observation location (e.g. 34.05 for Los Angeles) |
| `longitude` | number | Yes | Longitude of the observation location (e.g. -118.24 for Los Angeles) |
| `date` | string | No | Date in YYYY-MM-DD format (default: today) |
| `time` | string | No | Time in HH:MM format, 24-hour (default: 21:00) |
| `timezone_offset` | number | No | Hours offset from UTC (e.g. -7 for PDT, 0 for UTC, 1 for CET). Default 0. |

**Returns:** List of visible celestial objects (planets and bright stars) above the horizon, sorted by altitude with compass directions

**Examples:**

*What planets and stars are visible tonight from Los Angeles:*

```json
{
  "latitude": 34.05,
  "longitude": -118.24,
  "time": "21:00",
  "timezone_offset": -7
}
```

*Night sky from Sydney at midnight:*

```json
{
  "latitude": -33.87,
  "longitude": 151.21,
  "time": "00:00",
  "timezone_offset": 11
}
```

### Moon Phase (`moon_phase`)

Get the current moon phase, illumination percentage, moonrise and moonset times, and the dates of the next four major phases. Provide coordinates for location-specific moonrise/moonset times.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `date` | string | No | Date in YYYY-MM-DD format (default: today) |
| `latitude` | number | No | Latitude for moonrise/moonset times (optional) |
| `longitude` | number | No | Longitude for moonrise/moonset times (optional) |
| `timezone_offset` | number | No | Hours offset from UTC (default 0) |

**Returns:** Current moon phase, illumination, moonrise/moonset times, and upcoming phase dates

**Examples:**

*Current moon phase and upcoming phases:*

```json
{
  "date": "2026-03-22"
}
```

*Moon phase with rise/set times for New York:*

```json
{
  "date": "2026-03-22",
  "latitude": 40.71,
  "longitude": -74.01,
  "timezone_offset": -4
}
```

### Sun & Moon Times (`sun_and_moon_times`)

Get sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, civil twilight begin and end, moon phase, and total daylight hours for any location and date. Essential for planning outdoor activities, photography, or stargazing.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `latitude` | number | Yes | Latitude of the location (e.g. 40.71 for New York) |
| `longitude` | number | Yes | Longitude of the location (e.g. -74.01 for New York) |
| `date` | string | No | Date in YYYY-MM-DD format (default: today) |
| `timezone_offset` | number | No | Hours offset from UTC (default 0) |

**Returns:** Sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, twilight times, moon phase, and daylight hours

**Examples:**

*Sunrise and sunset for New York today:*

```json
{
  "latitude": 40.71,
  "longitude": -74.01,
  "timezone_offset": -4
}
```

*Sun and moon times for London:*

```json
{
  "latitude": 51.51,
  "longitude": -0.13,
  "date": "2026-06-21",
  "timezone_offset": 1
}
```

### Eclipse Forecast (`eclipse_forecast`)

Get upcoming solar and lunar eclipses for a given year, including dates, types (total, annular, partial, penumbral), and timing. Solar eclipse data from the US Naval Observatory; lunar eclipses from NASA GSFC catalog (2025-2040).

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `year` | number | No | Year to check for eclipses (default: current year) |

**Returns:** List of solar and lunar eclipses for the year with dates, types, and UTC times

**Examples:**

*All solar and lunar eclipses in 2026:*

```json
{
  "year": 2026
}
```

*Eclipses in 2027:*

```json
{
  "year": 2027
}
```

### Celestial Events (`celestial_events`)

Get a combined timeline of upcoming astronomical events including equinoxes, solstices, meteor shower peaks, and asteroid close approaches to Earth. Data from the US Naval Observatory and NASA JPL, plus well-known annual meteor shower dates.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `start_date` | string | No | Start date in YYYY-MM-DD format (default: today) |
| `days` | number | No | Number of days to look ahead (default: 30, max: 365) |

**Returns:** Combined chronological timeline of equinoxes, solstices, meteor shower peaks, and asteroid close approaches

**Examples:**

*Celestial events in the next 30 days:*

```json
{
  "start_date": "2026-03-22"
}
```

*Celestial events for the next 90 days including meteor showers:*

```json
{
  "start_date": "2026-07-01",
  "days": 90
}
```

## Quick Start

```bash
# Via CLI
TOOLROUTER_API_KEY=tr_live_xxx npx -y toolrouter-mcp call night-sky whats_visible --latitude 34.05 --longitude -118.24 --time 21:00 --timezone_offset -7

# Via REST API
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer tr_live_xxx" \
     -d '{"tool":"night-sky","skill":"whats_visible","input":{"latitude":34.05,"longitude":-118.24,"time":"21:00","timezone_offset":-7}}' \
     https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/call
```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What can I see from my location tonight?

`whats_visible` shows planets and bright stars above the horizon for a specific latitude and longitude, sorted by altitude with compass direction.

### Can it tell me sunrise, sunset, moonrise, and moonset?

Yes. `sun_and_moon_times` returns sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, civil twilight, and daylight hours. `moon_phase` adds the current phase and the next major phases.

### Does it include eclipses and meteor showers?

`eclipse_forecast` lists upcoming solar and lunar eclipses by year, and `celestial_events` adds equinoxes, solstices, meteor shower peaks, and asteroid close approaches.

### Do I need exact coordinates and a time zone?

For location-based results, pass latitude, longitude, and `timezone_offset`. `moon_phase` can work from a date alone if you only need phase timing.

---

## Get Started with ToolRouter

**Already connected?** Call any tool with `use_tool({ tool, skill, input })`. Browse tools with `discover` or visit https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt

**New to ToolRouter?** Connect with one command (no API key needed — auto-provisions on first use):

```bash
# MCP (Claude Code, Codex CLI)
claude mcp add toolrouter -- npx -y toolrouter-mcp

# MCP (Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, VS Code, Gemini CLI, Claude Desktop)
{"mcpServers":{"toolrouter":{"command":"npx","args":["-y","toolrouter-mcp"]}}}

# Claude Chat / Claude Cowork / Claude Mobile — add as a connector:
# Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector → URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# ChatGPT — add as an app:
# Settings → Apps → Advanced settings → enable Developer mode → Create app → MCP Server URL: https://api.toolrouter.com/mcp

# CLI (works instantly, no restart needed)
npx -y toolrouter-mcp tools                    # browse all tools
npx -y toolrouter-mcp search "seo"             # search by keyword
npx -y toolrouter-mcp call seo analyze_page --url https://example.com
```

Free tools work immediately. For paid tools, visit https://toolrouter.com/claim to add credits.

All platforms: https://toolrouter.com/connect | Full catalog: https://toolrouter.com/llms-full.txt | Docs: https://toolrouter.com/docs