Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-15.7° (−12° to −18°)
20:35:04
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 33m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:03
Civil Dusk19:34
Nautical20:10
Full Dark20:45
Nadir01:49
Dark Ends06:53
Nautical07:29
Civil Dawn08:04
Sunrise08:36
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE27.7°
DISTANCE379,843 km
Moonrise17:39
Moonset06:27
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · 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 | -21.5° | 267° | Libra | 09:04 | 13:43 | 18:24 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.4° | 342° | Leo | 02:31 | 09:41 | 16:47 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 20.8° | 112° | Pisces | 18:27 | 00:36 | 06:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -24.2° | 352° | Cancer | 01:40 | 09:06 | 16:30 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -9.4° | 250° | Libra | 10:41 | 15:07 | 19:33 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 1.0° | 59° | Taurus | 20:27 | 04:07 | 11:51 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 23.9° | 119° | Pisces | 18:05 | 00:06 | 06:07 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:39
BEST TIME23:55S · 45° high
SETS06:27
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:31
BEST TIME09:41S · 57° high
SETS16:47
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
RISES18:27
BEST TIME00:36S · 44° high
SETS06:44
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
RISES09:04
BEST TIME13:43S · 25° high
SETS18:24
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
RISES01:40
BEST TIME09:06S · 61° high
SETS16:30
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.
