Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-41.6° (< −18°)
02:40:55
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 12h 58m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:06
Civil Dusk17:32
Nautical18:02
Full Dark18:31
Nadir23:35
Dark Ends04:39
Nautical05:09
Civil Dawn05:39
Sunrise06:04
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE11.0°
DISTANCE380,046 km
Moonrise15:17
Moonset03:41
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX18% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
85/100
Pristine dark skies with clear transparency. Ideal for astrophotography & faint deep sky targets.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -43.8° | 81° | Libra | 06:17 | 11:26 | 16:40 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 23.5° | 89° | Leo | 00:41 | 07:25 | 14:09 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.5° | 256° | Pisces | 16:18 | 22:23 | 04:29 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Optimal Visibility | 1.0 | 32.3° | 90° | Cancer | 23:55 | 06:51 | 13:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -62.2° | 66° | Libra | 07:52 | 12:51 | 17:54 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 72.4° | 218° | Taurus | 18:49 | 01:54 | 08:59 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 14.5° | 259° | Pisces | 15:53 | 21:54 | 03:54 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:17
BEST TIME21:24S · 55° high
SETS03:41
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:41
BEST TIME07:25S · 69° high
SETS14:09
Reaches about 69° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:18
BEST TIME22:23S · 56° high
SETS04:29
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES06:17
BEST TIME11:26S · 37° high
SETS16:40
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:55
BEST TIME06:51S · 73° high
SETS13:46
Reaches about 73° 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.
