Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-13.7° (−12° to −18°)
19:28:47
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 1m of true darkness · 14h 9m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:51
Civil Dusk18:29
Nautical19:12
Full Dark19:55
Nadir00:55
Dark Ends05:56
Nautical06:38
Civil Dawn07:21
Sunrise08:00
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE21.4°
DISTANCE380,091 km
Moonrise16:42
Moonset05:37
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX34% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
70/100
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 | -19.9° | 268° | Libra | 08:41 | 12:50 | 16:59 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -17.5° | 340° | Leo | 01:11 | 08:47 | 16:19 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 15.8° | 112° | Pisces | 17:30 | 23:42 | 05:53 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.3° | 349° | Cancer | 00:13 | 08:12 | 16:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.6° | 249° | Libra | 10:26 | 14:13 | 18:01 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 3.7° | 57° | Taurus | 18:52 | 03:13 | 11:38 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 18.0° | 119° | Pisces | 17:11 | 23:12 | 05:13 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:42
BEST TIME22:59S · 36° high
SETS05:37
Reaches about 36° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:11
BEST TIME08:47S · 49° high
SETS16:19
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
RISES17:30
BEST TIME23:42S · 36° high
SETS05:53
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
RISES08:41
BEST TIME12:50S · 16° high
SETS16:59
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
RISES00:13
BEST TIME08:12S · 52° high
SETS16:09
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.
