Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-17.1° (−12° to −18°)
20:01:33
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 0m of true darkness · 14h 11m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:58
Civil Dusk18:37
Nautical19:20
Full Dark20:04
Nadir01:04
Dark Ends06:04
Nautical06:47
Civil Dawn07:31
Sunrise08:09
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE24.0°
DISTANCE379,968 km
Moonrise16:50
Moonset05:47
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX38% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
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 | -23.4° | 273° | Libra | 08:52 | 12:58 | 17:05 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -18.0° | 347° | Leo | 01:18 | 08:55 | 16:29 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 18.7° | 117° | Pisces | 17:38 | 23:50 | 06:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.2° | 355° | Cancer | 00:19 | 08:20 | 16:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -14.1° | 254° | Libra | 10:37 | 14:22 | 18:07 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 6.9° | 62° | Taurus | 18:57 | 03:21 | 11:49 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.6° | 125° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:20 | 05:21 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:50
BEST TIME23:08S · 36° high
SETS05:47
Reaches about 36° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:18
BEST TIME08:55S · 48° high
SETS16:29
Reaches about 48° 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 · 35° high
SETS06:01
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:52
BEST TIME12:58S · 16° high
SETS17:05
Only reaches about 16° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:19
BEST TIME08:20S · 52° high
SETS16:20
Reaches about 52° 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.
