Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-29.3° (< −18°)
21:11:44
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 33m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:19
Civil Dusk18:50
Nautical19:26
Full Dark20:01
Nadir01:05
Dark Ends06:09
Nautical06:45
Civil Dawn07:20
Sunrise07:52
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE37.9°
DISTANCE379,707 km
Moonrise16:54
Moonset05:40
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX57% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
72/100
Fine observing conditions. Open star clusters and nebulae will exhibit crisp structure.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -35.3° | 282° | Libra | 08:12 | 12:59 | 17:40 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.8° | 5° | Leo | 01:46 | 08:53 | 16:04 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 32.5° | 130° | Pisces | 17:43 | 23:51 | 06:00 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.5° | 13° | Cancer | 00:55 | 08:20 | 15:47 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -22.9° | 264° | Libra | 09:58 | 14:23 | 18:49 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 13.3° | 73° | Taurus | 19:42 | 03:23 | 11:07 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.5° | 139° | Pisces | 17:21 | 23:22 | 05:22 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:54
BEST TIME23:10S · 45° high
SETS05:40
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:46
BEST TIME08:53S · 57° high
SETS16:04
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:43
BEST TIME23:51S · 44° high
SETS06:00
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:12
BEST TIME12:59S · 25° high
SETS17:40
Reaches about 25° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:55
BEST TIME08:20S · 61° high
SETS15:47
Reaches about 61° above the horizon at its highest point.Distinctive crimson hue; polar ice cap discernible near opposition.
M31 / NGC 224 · Andromeda
Spiral Galaxy (2.5M ly)Andromeda Galaxy
Our galactic neighbor; visible as a ghostly oval smudge with dense radiant stellar core.
M45 · Taurus
Open Star ClusterThe Pleiades (Seven Sisters)
Breathtaking blue diamond cluster enshrouded in delicate interstellar reflection nebulosity.
M42 / NGC 1976 · Orion
Diffuse Emission NebulaGreat Orion Nebula
Star nursery harboring the brilliant Trapezium cluster with sprawling bat-wing filaments.
NGC 869 & NGC 884 · Perseus
Twin Open ClustersThe Double Cluster
Pair of spectacular shimmering jewel-boxes bursting with ruby supergiant stars.
M13 / NGC 6205 · Hercules
Globular Cluster (300k stars)Great Globular Cluster in Hercules
Massive beehive of ancient stars packed tightly together into a blazing central ball.
M57 / NGC 6720 · Lyra
Planetary NebulaThe Ring Nebula
Delicate glowing smoke-ring left behind by a dying star 2,500 light-years away.
