Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-18.2° (< −18°)
19:33:54
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 12h 57m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:06
Civil Dusk18:31
Nautical19:01
Full Dark19:30
Nadir00:34
Dark Ends05:38
Nautical06:08
Civil Dawn06:37
Sunrise07:03
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE36.4°
DISTANCE380,297 km
Moonrise16:23
Moonset04:58
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX55% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
73/100
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 | -23.0° | 264° | Libra | 07:13 | 12:29 | 17:38 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -39.0° | 344° | Leo | 01:40 | 08:26 | 15:09 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 27.4° | 109° | Pisces | 17:15 | 23:21 | 05:27 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -36.8° | 355° | Cancer | 00:55 | 07:51 | 14:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -7.6° | 250° | Libra | 08:52 | 13:53 | 18:54 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -2.7° | 61° | Taurus | 19:49 | 02:52 | 10:00 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.9° | 116° | Pisces | 16:51 | 22:51 | 04:52 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:23
BEST TIME22:36S · 57° high
SETS04:58
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:40
BEST TIME08:26S · 70° high
SETS15:09
Reaches about 70° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:15
BEST TIME23:21S · 57° high
SETS05:27
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:13
BEST TIME12:29S · 37° high
SETS17:38
Reaches about 37° 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 TIME07:51S · 73° high
SETS14:46
Reaches about 73° 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.
