Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-15.9° (−12° to −18°)
19:37:51
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 46m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:58
Civil Dusk18:31
Nautical19:10
Full Dark19:47
Nadir00:51
Dark Ends05:53
Nautical06:31
Civil Dawn07:10
Sunrise07:43
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE26.0°
DISTANCE380,057 km
Moonrise16:38
Moonset05:28
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
67/100
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 | -21.9° | 269° | Libra | 08:16 | 12:45 | 17:14 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.0° | 343° | Leo | 01:23 | 08:42 | 15:58 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.6° | 113° | Pisces | 17:27 | 23:37 | 05:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -20.6° | 353° | Cancer | 00:29 | 08:07 | 15:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.9° | 251° | Libra | 09:57 | 14:09 | 18:21 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 2.9° | 59° | Taurus | 19:13 | 03:08 | 11:07 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.3° | 121° | Pisces | 17:07 | 23:07 | 05:08 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:38
BEST TIME22:54S · 41° high
SETS05:28
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:23
BEST TIME08:42S · 54° high
SETS15:58
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
RISES17:27
BEST TIME23:37S · 41° high
SETS05:46
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
RISES08:16
BEST TIME12:45S · 21° high
SETS17:14
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
RISES00:29
BEST TIME08:07S · 57° high
SETS15:44
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.
