Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-14.1° (−12° to −18°)
19:57:17
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 47m of true darkness · 14h 51m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:55
Civil Dusk18:42
Nautical19:34
Full Dark20:26
Nadir01:20
Dark Ends06:13
Nautical07:05
Civil Dawn07:58
Sunrise08:45
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE18.2°
DISTANCE379,984 km
Moonrise17:04
Moonset06:11
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX29% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
72/100
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 | -20.6° | 271° | Libra | 09:43 | 13:14 | 16:45 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -11.3° | 342° | Leo | 01:05 | 09:11 | 17:13 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 13.7° | 114° | Pisces | 17:51 | 00:06 | 06:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -8.7° | 351° | Cancer | 23:55 | 08:36 | 17:15 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.5° | 251° | Libra | 11:39 | 14:37 | 17:36 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 7.7° | 58° | Taurus | 18:21 | 03:37 | 12:56 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 15.1° | 122° | Pisces | 17:35 | 23:36 | 05:37 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:04
BEST TIME23:24S · 30° high
SETS06:11
Reaches about 30° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · Good height
RISES01:05
BEST TIME09:11S · 42° high
SETS17:13
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:51
BEST TIME00:06S · 29° high
SETS06:20
Reaches about 29° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES09:43
BEST TIME13:14S · 10° high
SETS16:45
Only reaches about 10° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:55
BEST TIME08:36S · 46° high
SETS17:15
Reaches about 46° 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.
