Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-17.7° (−12° to −18°)
20:05:11
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 2m of true darkness · 14h 3m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:03
Civil Dusk18:40
Nautical19:22
Full Dark20:03
Nadir01:05
Dark Ends06:05
Nautical06:47
Civil Dawn07:29
Sunrise08:06
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE25.3°
DISTANCE380,179 km
Moonrise16:51
Moonset05:42
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX39% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
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 | -23.8° | 273° | Libra | 08:46 | 12:59 | 17:13 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -19.7° | 347° | Leo | 01:25 | 08:56 | 16:24 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.8° | 117° | Pisces | 17:40 | 23:51 | 06:02 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -16.9° | 356° | Cancer | 00:27 | 08:21 | 16:14 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -14.0° | 254° | Libra | 10:29 | 14:23 | 18:17 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 6.4° | 62° | Taurus | 19:08 | 03:22 | 11:41 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 21.9° | 125° | Pisces | 17:21 | 23:21 | 05:22 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:51
BEST TIME23:07S · 37° high
SETS05:42
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:25
BEST TIME08:56S · 50° high
SETS16:24
Reaches about 50° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:40
BEST TIME23:51S · 37° high
SETS06:02
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:46
BEST TIME12:59S · 17° high
SETS17:13
Only reaches about 17° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:27
BEST TIME08:21S · 53° high
SETS16:14
Reaches about 53° 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.
