Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-22.8° (< −18°)
20:27:34
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 38m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:10
Civil Dusk18:42
Nautical19:19
Full Dark19:55
Nadir00:59
Dark Ends06:03
Nautical06:39
Civil Dawn07:16
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%
ALTITUDE32.5°
DISTANCE379,871 km
Moonrise16:47
Moonset05:35
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -28.7° | 276° | Libra | 08:10 | 12:53 | 17:29 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.2° | 354° | Leo | 01:36 | 08:50 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 26.5° | 122° | Pisces | 17:36 | 23:45 | 05:54 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.9° | 3° | Cancer | 00:44 | 08:14 | 15:45 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -16.8° | 258° | Libra | 09:57 | 14:17 | 18:37 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 7.8° | 67° | Taurus | 19:30 | 03:16 | 11:07 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 28.9° | 130° | Pisces | 17:15 | 23:16 | 05:16 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:47
BEST TIME23:03S · 43° high
SETS05:35
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:36
BEST TIME08:50S · 56° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:36
BEST TIME23:45S · 43° high
SETS05:54
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:10
BEST TIME12:53S · 23° high
SETS17:29
Reaches about 23° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:44
BEST TIME08:14S · 59° high
SETS15:45
Reaches about 59° 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.
