Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-18.1° (< −18°)
19:57:53
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 42m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:06
Civil Dusk18:39
Nautical19:16
Full Dark19:53
Nadir00:57
Dark Ends06:00
Nautical06:37
Civil Dawn07:15
Sunrise07:48
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE28.4°
DISTANCE379,982 km
Moonrise16:45
Moonset05:34
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX44% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
76/100
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 | -24.1° | 271° | Libra | 08:19 | 12:51 | 17:24 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -24.6° | 347° | Leo | 01:32 | 08:48 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 22.1° | 116° | Pisces | 17:34 | 23:43 | 05:52 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -21.9° | 356° | Cancer | 00:39 | 08:14 | 15:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -12.6° | 253° | Libra | 09:59 | 14:15 | 18:32 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 4.2° | 62° | Taurus | 19:25 | 03:15 | 11:09 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.7° | 124° | Pisces | 17:13 | 23:14 | 05:14 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:45
BEST TIME23:01S · 42° high
SETS05:34
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:32
BEST TIME08:48S · 55° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:34
BEST TIME23:43S · 42° high
SETS05:52
Reaches about 42° 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 TIME12:51S · 22° high
SETS17:24
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
RISES00:39
BEST TIME08:14S · 58° high
SETS15:46
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.
