Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Nautical Twilight-9.1° (−6° to −12°)
19:03:41
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 28m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:11
Civil Dusk18:42
Nautical19:16
Full Dark19:51
Nadir00:55
Dark Ends06:00
Nautical06:34
Civil Dawn07:09
Sunrise07:40
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE22.6°
DISTANCE380,185 km
Moonrise16:44
Moonset05:29
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX36% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
59/100
Partial haze or lunar wash. Bright clusters, double stars, and prominent planets remain well visible.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -14.9° | 260° | Libra | 08:06 | 12:50 | 17:33 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -25.0° | 332° | Leo | 01:39 | 08:47 | 15:51 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 15.0° | 104° | Pisces | 17:34 | 23:42 | 05:50 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.9° | 342° | Cancer | 00:49 | 08:12 | 15:33 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -3.0° | 243° | Libra | 09:44 | 14:14 | 18:44 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -4.8° | 52° | Taurus | 19:37 | 03:13 | 10:53 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 18.6° | 111° | Pisces | 17:11 | 23:12 | 05:13 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:44
BEST TIME22:59S · 46° high
SETS05:29
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:39
BEST TIME08:47S · 59° high
SETS15:51
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:34
BEST TIME23:42S · 46° high
SETS05:50
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:06
BEST TIME12:50S · 26° high
SETS17:33
Reaches about 26° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:49
BEST TIME08:12S · 62° high
SETS15:33
Reaches about 62° 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.
