Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-24.8° (< −18°)
20:47:54
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 2m of true darkness · 14h 5m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:54
Civil Dusk18:32
Nautical19:14
Full Dark19:56
Nadir00:57
Dark Ends05:57
Nautical06:39
Civil Dawn07:21
Sunrise07:59
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE30.3°
DISTANCE379,795 km
Moonrise16:43
Moonset05:38
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX47% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -31.1° | 284° | Libra | 08:30 | 12:51 | 17:03 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -20.1° | 0° | Leo | 01:15 | 08:48 | 16:17 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.7° | 130° | Pisces | 17:32 | 23:43 | 05:54 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -16.2° | 9° | Cancer | 00:17 | 08:11 | 16:07 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -21.3° | 264° | Libra | 10:23 | 14:14 | 18:06 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 13.3° | 72° | Taurus | 18:57 | 03:14 | 11:35 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.1° | 138° | Pisces | 17:12 | 23:13 | 05:14 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:43
BEST TIME23:00S · 37° high
SETS05:38
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:15
BEST TIME08:48S · 49° high
SETS16:17
Reaches about 49° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:32
BEST TIME23:43S · 36° high
SETS05:54
Reaches about 36° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:30
BEST TIME12:51S · 17° high
SETS17:03
Only reaches about 17° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:17
BEST TIME08:11S · 53° high
SETS16:07
Reaches about 53° 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.
