Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-19.7° (< −18°)
20:28:14
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 0m of true darkness · 14h 12m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:06
Civil Dusk18:44
Nautical19:28
Full Dark20:11
Nadir01:11
Dark Ends06:11
Nautical06:54
Civil Dawn07:38
Sunrise08:17
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE25.9°
DISTANCE380,093 km
Moonrise16:58
Moonset05:51
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX40% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
78/100
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 | -26.0° | 277° | Libra | 09:00 | 13:06 | 17:12 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -18.4° | 351° | Leo | 01:25 | 09:03 | 16:37 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 20.9° | 122° | Pisces | 17:46 | 23:58 | 06:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.2° | 0° | Cancer | 00:26 | 08:28 | 16:28 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -16.7° | 258° | Libra | 10:45 | 14:29 | 18:14 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 9.2° | 66° | Taurus | 19:04 | 03:29 | 11:58 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.7° | 130° | Pisces | 17:27 | 23:28 | 05:29 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:58
BEST TIME23:14S · 35° high
SETS05:51
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:25
BEST TIME09:03S · 48° high
SETS16:37
Reaches about 48° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:46
BEST TIME23:58S · 35° high
SETS06:09
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES09:00
BEST TIME13:06S · 16° high
SETS17:12
Only reaches about 16° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:26
BEST TIME08:28S · 52° high
SETS16:28
Reaches about 52° 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.
