Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-58.7° (< −18°)
01:36:59
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
Sunset17:24
Civil Dusk17:46
Nautical18:10
Full Dark18:35
Nadir23:30
Dark Ends04:24
Nautical04:49
Civil Dawn05:14
Sunrise05:36
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE26.9°
DISTANCE380,060 km
Moonrise15:10
Moonset03:33
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX42% · 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 | -56.7° | 106° | Libra | 05:34 | 11:20 | 17:12 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 6.8° | 77° | Leo | 01:06 | 07:19 | 13:32 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 39.6° | 263° | Pisces | 16:15 | 22:18 | 04:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 15.4° | 74° | Cancer | 00:29 | 06:45 | 13:02 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -74.6° | 131° | Libra | 07:01 | 12:46 | 18:34 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 79.7° | 17° | Taurus | 19:30 | 01:49 | 08:08 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 32.0° | 262° | Pisces | 15:47 | 21:48 | 03:49 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:10
BEST TIME21:20S · 79° high
SETS03:33
Reaches about 79° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:06
BEST TIME07:19N · 87° high
SETS13:32
Reaches about 87° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:15
BEST TIME22:18S · 80° high
SETS04:20
Reaches about 80° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:34
BEST TIME11:20S · 61° high
SETS17:12
Reaches about 61° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:29
BEST TIME06:45N · 83° high
SETS13:02
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.
