Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-24.5° (< −18°)
21:02:15
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 54m of true darkness · 14h 31m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:47
Civil Dusk18:29
Nautical19:17
Full Dark20:05
Nadir01:02
Dark Ends05:59
Nautical06:46
Civil Dawn07:34
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%
ALTITUDE27.2°
DISTANCE379,742 km
Moonrise16:48
Moonset05:49
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
77/100
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 | -31.0° | 289° | Libra | 09:08 | 12:56 | 16:45 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -15.4° | 3° | Leo | 01:02 | 08:50 | 16:41 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 23.5° | 134° | Pisces | 17:35 | 23:48 | 06:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -11.4° | 11° | Cancer | 23:58 | 08:16 | 16:37 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -22.9° | 268° | Libra | 10:58 | 14:20 | 17:42 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 15.8° | 75° | Taurus | 18:31 | 03:19 | 12:12 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.3° | 142° | Pisces | 17:18 | 23:18 | 05:19 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:48
BEST TIME23:06S · 32° high
SETS05:49
Reaches about 32° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · Good height
RISES01:02
BEST TIME08:50S · 45° high
SETS16:41
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:35
BEST TIME23:48S · 32° high
SETS06:01
Reaches about 32° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES09:08
BEST TIME12:56S · 12° high
SETS16:45
Only reaches about 12° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:58
BEST TIME08:16S · 48° high
SETS16:37
Reaches about 48° 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.
