Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-50.8° (< −18°)
02:10:01
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 52m of true darkness · 12h 15m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:23
Civil Dusk17:44
Nautical18:09
Full Dark18:34
Nadir23:30
Dark Ends04:26
Nautical04:51
Civil Dawn05:16
Sunrise05:38
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE19.0°
DISTANCE379,937 km
Moonrise15:11
Moonset03:34
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX30% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
81/100
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 | -49.4° | 102° | Libra | 05:37 | 11:21 | 17:10 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 15.0° | 78° | Leo | 01:04 | 07:20 | 13:35 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 31.5° | 263° | Pisces | 16:16 | 22:18 | 04:21 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 23.6° | 76° | Cancer | 00:26 | 06:46 | 13:05 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -68.9° | 114° | Libra | 07:05 | 12:46 | 18:31 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 81.0° | 328° | Taurus | 19:27 | 01:49 | 08:12 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 23.8° | 264° | Pisces | 15:48 | 21:49 | 03:49 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:11
BEST TIME21:21S · 77° high
SETS03:34
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:04
BEST TIME07:20N · 89° high
SETS13:35
Reaches about 89° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:16
BEST TIME22:18S · 78° high
SETS04:21
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:37
BEST TIME11:21S · 59° high
SETS17:10
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:26
BEST TIME06:46N · 86° high
SETS13:05
Reaches about 86° 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.
