Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-20.4° (< −18°)
21:05:34
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 36m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:04
Civil Dusk19:36
Nautical20:12
Full Dark20:48
Nadir01:52
Dark Ends06:56
Nautical07:31
Civil Dawn08:08
Sunrise08:40
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE31.1°
DISTANCE379,730 km
Moonrise17:41
Moonset06:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX48% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -26.3° | 272° | Libra | 09:08 | 13:46 | 18:24 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.6° | 350° | Leo | 02:31 | 09:43 | 16:52 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 24.7° | 118° | Pisces | 18:29 | 00:38 | 06:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.7° | 359° | Cancer | 01:39 | 09:08 | 16:36 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -14.2° | 255° | Libra | 10:47 | 15:10 | 19:33 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 5.3° | 64° | Taurus | 20:26 | 04:09 | 11:57 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.5° | 126° | Pisces | 18:08 | 00:08 | 06:09 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:41
BEST TIME23:58S · 44° high
SETS06:30
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:31
BEST TIME09:43S · 56° high
SETS16:52
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES18:29
BEST TIME00:38S · 43° high
SETS06:46
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES09:08
BEST TIME13:46S · 24° high
SETS18:24
Reaches about 24° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:39
BEST TIME09:08S · 60° high
SETS16:36
Reaches about 60° 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.
