Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Daylight+25.5°
15:26:28
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 17m of true darkness · 11h 39m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:14
Civil Dusk17:36
Nautical18:01
Full Dark18:26
Nadir23:04
Dark Ends03:42
Nautical04:07
Civil Dawn04:32
Sunrise04:53
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE4.4°
DISTANCE379,875 km
Moonrise15:05
Moonset03:22
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX7% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
39/100
High cloud cover or severe light interference. Recommend bright planetary observation or indoor planning.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Visible Low | -4.3 | 24.1° | 254° | Libra | 04:46 | 10:58 | 17:09 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -38.3° | 282° | Leo | 00:59 | 06:55 | 12:48 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Below Horizon | 0.3 | -5.9° | 90° | Pisces | 15:50 | 21:50 | 03:55 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -46.3° | 287° | Cancer | 00:28 | 06:21 | 12:12 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Optimal Visibility | 0.4 | 43.8° | 249° | Libra | 06:08 | 12:22 | 18:36 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -57.5° | 63° | Taurus | 19:33 | 01:21 | 07:14 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Rising / Setting | 7.8 | 1.5° | 90° | Pisces | 15:19 | 21:20 | 03:26 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:05
BEST TIME21:14N · 78° high
SETS03:22
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:59
BEST TIME06:55N · 67° high
SETS12:48
Reaches about 67° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:50
BEST TIME21:50N · 80° high
SETS03:55
Reaches about 80° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES04:46
BEST TIME10:58S · 80° high
SETS17:09
Reaches about 80° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:28
BEST TIME06:21N · 64° high
SETS12:12
Reaches about 64° 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.
