Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-23.0° (< −18°)
20:53:43
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 37m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:36
Civil Dusk19:08
Nautical19:44
Full Dark20:20
Nadir01:24
Dark Ends06:28
Nautical07:04
Civil Dawn07:41
Sunrise08:13
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.8°
DISTANCE379,774 km
Moonrise17:13
Moonset06:01
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -28.9° | 276° | Libra | 08:34 | 13:18 | 17:55 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.6° | 354° | Leo | 02:02 | 09:16 | 16:26 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 26.8° | 122° | Pisces | 18:02 | 00:10 | 06:19 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.1° | 3° | Cancer | 01:10 | 08:39 | 16:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -16.9° | 258° | Libra | 10:21 | 14:42 | 19:03 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 7.8° | 67° | Taurus | 19:57 | 03:42 | 11:31 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.2° | 130° | Pisces | 17:40 | 23:41 | 05:41 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:13
BEST TIME23:29S · 44° high
SETS06:01
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:02
BEST TIME09:16S · 56° high
SETS16:26
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
RISES18:02
BEST TIME00:10S · 43° high
SETS06:19
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
RISES08:34
BEST TIME13:18S · 24° high
SETS17:55
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
RISES01:10
BEST TIME08:39S · 59° high
SETS16:09
Reaches about 59° 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.
