Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-21.6° (< −18°)
21:02:39
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 35m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:55
Civil Dusk19:26
Nautical20:02
Full Dark20:38
Nadir01:42
Dark Ends06:46
Nautical07:22
Civil Dawn07:58
Sunrise08:29
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.1°
DISTANCE379,740 km
Moonrise17:31
Moonset06:20
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX49% · 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 | -27.4° | 274° | Libra | 08:50 | 13:36 | 18:15 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.1° | 352° | Leo | 02:22 | 09:33 | 16:42 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.8° | 119° | Pisces | 18:20 | 00:28 | 06:37 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.9° | 1° | Cancer | 01:31 | 08:57 | 16:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -15.3° | 256° | Libra | 10:36 | 15:00 | 19:24 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 6.2° | 65° | Taurus | 20:17 | 04:00 | 11:46 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 28.5° | 127° | Pisces | 17:58 | 23:59 | 05:59 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:31
BEST TIME23:48S · 45° high
SETS06:20
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:22
BEST TIME09:33S · 57° high
SETS16:42
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
RISES18:20
BEST TIME00:28S · 44° high
SETS06:37
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
RISES08:50
BEST TIME13:36S · 24° high
SETS18:15
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
RISES01:31
BEST TIME08:57S · 60° high
SETS16:25
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.
