Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-18.2° (< −18°)
20:19:30
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 45m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:25
Civil Dusk18:59
Nautical19:37
Full Dark20:14
Nadir01:18
Dark Ends06:21
Nautical06:59
Civil Dawn07:37
Sunrise08:10
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE28.0°
DISTANCE379,901 km
Moonrise17:06
Moonset05:56
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
77/100
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 | -24.2° | 271° | Libra | 08:43 | 13:12 | 17:42 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.8° | 347° | Leo | 01:50 | 09:09 | 16:24 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.8° | 116° | Pisces | 17:55 | 00:04 | 06:13 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -21.0° | 356° | Cancer | 00:57 | 08:34 | 16:10 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.0° | 253° | Libra | 10:23 | 14:36 | 18:49 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 4.7° | 62° | Taurus | 19:41 | 03:35 | 11:33 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.4° | 124° | Pisces | 17:34 | 23:34 | 05:35 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:06
BEST TIME23:22S · 42° high
SETS05:56
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:50
BEST TIME09:09S · 54° high
SETS16:24
Reaches about 54° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:55
BEST TIME00:04S · 41° high
SETS06:13
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:43
BEST TIME13:12S · 22° high
SETS17:42
Reaches about 22° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:57
BEST TIME08:34S · 58° high
SETS16:10
Reaches about 58° 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.
