Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-17.5° (−12° to −18°)
20:05:34
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 58m of true darkness · 14h 17m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:55
Civil Dusk18:35
Nautical19:20
Full Dark20:05
Nadir01:04
Dark Ends06:03
Nautical06:47
Civil Dawn07:33
Sunrise08:13
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE23.7°
DISTANCE379,953 km
Moonrise16:50
Moonset05:48
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX37% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
69/100
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 | -23.9° | 274° | Libra | 08:57 | 12:58 | 17:00 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -17.0° | 348° | Leo | 01:14 | 08:55 | 16:33 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 18.6° | 119° | Pisces | 17:38 | 23:50 | 06:02 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -14.1° | 356° | Cancer | 00:13 | 08:20 | 16:26 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -14.9° | 255° | Libra | 10:44 | 14:22 | 18:00 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 7.9° | 63° | Taurus | 18:50 | 03:21 | 11:57 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.4° | 126° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:20 | 05:21 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:50
BEST TIME23:08S · 35° high
SETS05:48
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:14
BEST TIME08:55S · 47° high
SETS16:33
Reaches about 47° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:38
BEST TIME23:50S · 34° high
SETS06:02
Reaches about 34° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:57
BEST TIME12:58S · 15° high
SETS17:00
Only reaches about 15° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:13
BEST TIME08:20S · 51° high
SETS16:26
Reaches about 51° 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.
