Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-19.7° (< −18°)
21:04:30
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 34m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:08
Civil Dusk19:39
Nautical20:15
Full Dark20:51
Nadir01:55
Dark Ends06:59
Nautical07:35
Civil Dawn08:11
Sunrise08:42
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE30.7°
DISTANCE379,733 km
Moonrise17:44
Moonset06:33
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX47% · 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 | -25.5° | 271° | Libra | 09:11 | 13:49 | 18:28 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.9° | 349° | Leo | 02:35 | 09:46 | 16:54 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 24.2° | 117° | Pisces | 18:33 | 00:41 | 06:50 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -24.0° | 358° | Cancer | 01:44 | 09:12 | 16:38 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.4° | 254° | Libra | 10:49 | 15:13 | 19:37 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 4.5° | 63° | Taurus | 20:31 | 04:13 | 11:59 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.0° | 125° | Pisces | 18:11 | 00:12 | 06:12 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:44
BEST TIME00:01S · 45° high
SETS06:33
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:35
BEST TIME09:46S · 57° high
SETS16:54
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
RISES18:33
BEST TIME00:41S · 44° high
SETS06:50
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
RISES09:11
BEST TIME13:49S · 24° high
SETS18:28
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
RISES01:44
BEST TIME09:12S · 60° high
SETS16:38
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.
