Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-66.4° (< −18°)
01:16:28
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 53m of true darkness · 12h 17m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:32
Civil Dusk17:54
Nautical18:19
Full Dark18:44
Nadir23:40
Dark Ends04:37
Nautical05:02
Civil Dawn05:27
Sunrise05:49
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE34.0°
DISTANCE380,137 km
Moonrise15:21
Moonset03:44
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX52% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -64.9° | 102° | Libra | 05:49 | 11:31 | 17:19 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 0.6° | 75° | Leo | 01:13 | 07:30 | 13:50 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 46.5° | 257° | Pisces | 16:26 | 22:28 | 04:31 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 9.0° | 74° | Cancer | 00:35 | 06:56 | 13:19 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -82.0° | 148° | Libra | 07:17 | 12:56 | 18:39 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 77.6° | 56° | Taurus | 19:36 | 01:59 | 08:23 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 38.9° | 258° | Pisces | 15:58 | 21:59 | 03:59 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:21
BEST TIME21:31S · 76° high
SETS03:44
Reaches about 76° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:13
BEST TIME07:30N · 90° high
SETS13:50
Reaches about 90° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:26
BEST TIME22:28S · 77° high
SETS04:31
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:49
BEST TIME11:31S · 58° high
SETS17:19
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:35
BEST TIME06:56N · 86° high
SETS13:19
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.
