Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-56.4° (< −18°)
01:40:32
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 49m of true darkness · 12h 12m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:18
Civil Dusk17:40
Nautical18:04
Full Dark18:29
Nadir23:24
Dark Ends04:18
Nautical04:43
Civil Dawn05:08
Sunrise05:30
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE24.6°
DISTANCE380,047 km
Moonrise15:04
Moonset03:27
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX38% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
78/100
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 | -54.5° | 105° | Libra | 05:28 | 11:14 | 17:06 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 9.1° | 77° | Leo | 01:00 | 07:13 | 13:26 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 37.3° | 263° | Pisces | 16:09 | 22:12 | 04:14 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 17.6° | 75° | Cancer | 00:23 | 06:39 | 12:56 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -72.8° | 127° | Libra | 06:56 | 12:40 | 18:28 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 80.2° | 4° | Taurus | 19:24 | 01:43 | 08:02 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.6° | 263° | Pisces | 15:41 | 21:42 | 03:43 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:04
BEST TIME21:14S · 79° high
SETS03:27
Reaches about 79° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:00
BEST TIME07:13N · 87° high
SETS13:26
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
RISES16:09
BEST TIME22:12S · 80° high
SETS04:14
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
RISES05:28
BEST TIME11:14S · 61° high
SETS17:06
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
RISES00:23
BEST TIME06:39N · 83° high
SETS12:56
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.
