Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-12.2° (−12° to −18°)
19:37:26
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
Sunset18:25
Civil Dusk18:56
Nautical19:33
Full Dark20:08
Nadir01:12
Dark Ends06:16
Nautical06:52
Civil Dawn07:28
Sunrise08:00
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE24.3°
DISTANCE380,059 km
Moonrise17:01
Moonset05:48
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX38% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
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 | -18.0° | 263° | Libra | 08:29 | 13:07 | 17:45 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -24.4° | 337° | Leo | 01:52 | 09:04 | 16:13 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 17.2° | 108° | Pisces | 17:50 | 23:59 | 06:07 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.7° | 347° | Cancer | 01:00 | 08:29 | 15:56 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -6.4° | 246° | Libra | 10:08 | 14:30 | 18:53 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -1.3° | 55° | Taurus | 19:47 | 03:30 | 11:17 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.4° | 115° | Pisces | 17:28 | 23:29 | 05:30 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:01
BEST TIME23:17S · 44° high
SETS05:48
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:52
BEST TIME09:04S · 57° high
SETS16:13
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
RISES17:50
BEST TIME23:59S · 44° high
SETS06:07
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
RISES08:29
BEST TIME13:07S · 24° high
SETS17:45
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
RISES01:00
BEST TIME08:29S · 60° high
SETS15:56
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.
