Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-13.6° (−12° to −18°)
19:56:06
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 32m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:36
Civil Dusk19:07
Nautical19:43
Full Dark20:18
Nadir01:22
Dark Ends06:26
Nautical07:02
Civil Dawn07:37
Sunrise08:08
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE26.0°
DISTANCE379,989 km
Moonrise17:11
Moonset05:58
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
67/100
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 | -19.4° | 265° | Libra | 08:37 | 13:16 | 17:57 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -25.7° | 339° | Leo | 02:04 | 09:14 | 16:20 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 18.9° | 109° | Pisces | 18:00 | 00:09 | 06:17 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.8° | 349° | Cancer | 01:13 | 08:39 | 16:03 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -7.5° | 248° | Libra | 10:14 | 14:40 | 19:06 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -0.5° | 57° | Taurus | 20:00 | 03:40 | 11:24 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.1° | 117° | Pisces | 17:38 | 23:39 | 05:39 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:11
BEST TIME23:27S · 45° high
SETS05:58
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:04
BEST TIME09:14S · 57° high
SETS16:20
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES18:00
BEST TIME00:09S · 44° high
SETS06:17
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:37
BEST TIME13:16S · 25° high
SETS17:57
Reaches about 25° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:13
BEST TIME08:39S · 61° high
SETS16:03
Reaches about 61° 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.
