Trading Defined
Technical AnalysisIntermediate

Morning Star and Evening Star

Morning and evening stars are three-candle reversal patterns: a large candle, a small indecisive one, then a large candle in the opposite direction.

The morning star and evening star are three-candle Reversal patterns. A morning star forms after a fall and hints at a turn up; an evening star forms after a rise and hints at a turn down. The small middle candle is the 'star' that shows the trend pausing.

Category
Technical Analysis
Reading time
3 min
Also called
Morning star pattern, Evening star pattern, Morning doji star
Updated

The star patterns in plain words

A morning star is a three-candle bullish reversal: a long down candle that continues the decline, a small candle that gaps lower, then a long up candle that gaps higher and closes above the middle of the first candle's body.1

The evening star is the mirror image, ending with a big down candle that closes deep into the first candle's body.2

Both are considered fairly reliable reversal signals, since they take three sessions to form: an established trend, a pause and a firm turn.2

How to spot a star pattern

  1. Confirm the trend

    A morning star needs a prior fall; an evening star needs a prior rise.

  2. Find the long first candle

    For a morning star, the first long dark candle shows sellers are still in charge.3

  3. Check the star

    The middle candle is small; it can also be a doji, making a morning doji star.3

  4. Read the third candle

    It should be long and close well into the body of the first.2

  5. Check the level

    Give more weight to stars at support or resistance.

  6. Plan the trade

    Set a hypothetical stop beyond the star's extreme before acting.

Worked examples

Example 1 — Morning star

Bullish turn

A hypothetical stock falls to 40, prints a tiny candle near 39, then a long white candle closes at 43.

Example 1 — Morning star — calculation
Star low39
Third close43

After the gap the decline ceases or slows and a small candlestick forms, then buyers take over.3

Example 2 — Evening star

Bearish turn

A hypothetical index rises to 120, forms a small candle at 121, then drops to close at 116.

Example 2 — Evening star — calculation
Star high121
Third close116

The small middle candle showed hesitation, and on the third day sellers took firm control.2

Example 3 — Weak third candle

Wait for more

A hypothetical star forms, but the third candle closes only slightly into the first body.

Example 3 — Weak third candle — calculation
PenetrationSmall
SignalWeak

The third candle didn't close deep enough into the first one's body, so the pattern isn't complete.2

Morning star vs evening star

AspectMorning starEvening star
Prior trendDownUp
First candleLong blackLong white
Third candleLong whiteLong black
SignalBullish reversalBearish reversal

Where traders use them

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages

  • Three candles give more confirmation than one.
  • Clear structure that is easy to check.
  • Gives a natural stop level.
  • Works in many markets.

Disadvantages

  • The signal comes late, after three sessions.
  • True gaps are rare in 24-hour markets.
  • Can fail inside strong trends.
  • Shape rules vary between sources.

Going deeper

Read as far as you need. Each level builds on the one before it.

Three parts

Beginner

Both patterns follow the same script: trend, pause, decisive reversal.2

The star

Intermediate

After the gap, the fall stalls or slows and a small candle forms.3 In the evening version, that small candle signals hesitation and a possible turn lower.4

Doji stars

Advanced

Either pattern can have a doji in the middle, which some traders read as an even clearer pause.5

Common mistakes

  1. Ignoring the prior trend

    No trend, no reversal.

  2. Accepting a weak third candle

    It should close well into the first body.

  3. Trading without a stop

    Place it beyond the star.

  4. Ignoring volume

    Rising volume on the third candle helps.

Check your understanding

Test yourself before moving on. Each answer comes with an explanation.

Q1What trend comes before a morning star?
Q2How many candles does an evening star have?

Key points to remember

  1. Both are three-candle reversal patterns.
  2. Morning star turns a fall into a rise.
  3. Evening star turns a rise into a fall.
  4. The middle star shows a pause.
  5. The third candle should close well into the first.

Frequently asked questions

Is the gap required?

Classic rules use gaps, but many traders accept stars without them.

Which is more reliable?

Neither by rule; context matters most.

What is a doji star?

A star pattern whose middle candle is a doji.

Further learning

Sources

This article is written in our own words. The sources below support the specific facts, rules and figures marked with a number in the text. Links open the original publisher’s page.

  1. StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Pattern Dictionary (opens in a new tab) Checked .
  2. IG. 16 Candlestick Patterns Every Trader Should Know (opens in a new tab) Checked .
  3. StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Bullish Reversal Patterns (opens in a new tab) Checked .
  4. StockCharts ChartSchool. Candlestick Bearish Reversal Patterns (opens in a new tab) Checked .
  5. IG. Japanese Candlesticks: What They Are + How to Trade (opens in a new tab) Checked .

Read more elsewhere

Educational content, not financial advice. Examples use hypothetical prices and simplified costs; actual fees, margin rules and regulations vary by broker, market and country. Trading Metrics is our sister site, under the same ownership; we are not affiliated with any other publisher linked above. Last reviewed . Report an error or request a source credit.