Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-64.4° (< −18°)
01:18:05
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 49m of true darkness · 12h 11m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:29
Civil Dusk17:50
Nautical18:15
Full Dark18:40
Nadir23:34
Dark Ends04:29
Nautical04:53
Civil Dawn05:18
Sunrise05:40
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE32.5°
DISTANCE380,131 km
Moonrise15:15
Moonset03:37
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · 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 | -62.1° | 108° | Libra | 05:38 | 11:25 | 17:17 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 1.4° | 76° | Leo | 01:11 | 07:24 | 13:40 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 45.4° | 261° | Pisces | 16:20 | 22:22 | 04:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 9.8° | 73° | Cancer | 00:34 | 06:50 | 13:06 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -78.0° | 150° | Libra | 07:05 | 12:50 | 18:39 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 76.6° | 39° | Taurus | 19:35 | 01:53 | 08:11 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 37.7° | 261° | Pisces | 15:51 | 21:52 | 03:53 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:15
BEST TIME21:25S · 80° high
SETS03:37
Reaches about 80° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:11
BEST TIME07:24N · 86° high
SETS13:40
Reaches about 86° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:20
BEST TIME22:22S · 81° high
SETS04:25
Reaches about 81° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:38
BEST TIME11:25S · 62° high
SETS17:17
Reaches about 62° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:34
BEST TIME06:50N · 83° high
SETS13:06
Reaches about 83° 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.
