Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-12.4° (−12° to −18°)
19:17:51
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 47m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:59
Civil Dusk18:33
Nautical19:11
Full Dark19:49
Nadir00:52
Dark Ends05:55
Nautical06:33
Civil Dawn07:12
Sunrise07:46
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE22.9°
DISTANCE380,132 km
Moonrise16:40
Moonset05:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX36% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
69/100
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 | -18.4° | 265° | Libra | 08:19 | 12:47 | 17:15 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -21.5° | 338° | Leo | 01:24 | 08:44 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 16.3° | 109° | Pisces | 17:29 | 23:39 | 05:48 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -19.7° | 347° | Cancer | 00:30 | 08:09 | 15:47 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -7.7° | 247° | Libra | 10:00 | 14:10 | 18:21 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 0.4° | 55° | Taurus | 19:14 | 03:10 | 11:10 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 19.2° | 116° | Pisces | 17:08 | 23:09 | 05:10 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:40
BEST TIME22:56S · 41° high
SETS05:30
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:24
BEST TIME08:44S · 53° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:29
BEST TIME23:39S · 40° high
SETS05:48
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:19
BEST TIME12:47S · 21° high
SETS17:15
Reaches about 21° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:30
BEST TIME08:09S · 57° high
SETS15:47
Reaches about 57° 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.
