Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-26.5° (< −18°)
20:27:46
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 28m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:56
Civil Dusk18:26
Nautical19:01
Full Dark19:35
Nadir00:40
Dark Ends05:44
Nautical06:19
Civil Dawn06:53
Sunrise07:24
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE36.9°
DISTANCE379,871 km
Moonrise16:29
Moonset05:13
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX56% · 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 | -32.3° | 278° | Libra | 07:43 | 12:34 | 17:19 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -29.4° | 359° | Leo | 01:24 | 08:31 | 15:35 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 30.8° | 125° | Pisces | 17:18 | 23:26 | 05:34 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -25.5° | 8° | Cancer | 00:34 | 07:55 | 15:17 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -19.5° | 260° | Libra | 09:28 | 13:58 | 18:29 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 9.7° | 70° | Taurus | 19:22 | 02:58 | 10:37 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 33.3° | 133° | Pisces | 16:56 | 22:57 | 04:57 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:29
BEST TIME22:44S · 46° high
SETS05:13
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:24
BEST TIME08:31S · 59° high
SETS15:35
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:18
BEST TIME23:26S · 46° high
SETS05:34
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:43
BEST TIME12:34S · 26° high
SETS17:19
Reaches about 26° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:34
BEST TIME07:55S · 62° high
SETS15:17
Reaches about 62° 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.
