Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-36.0° (< −18°)
03:12:05
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 47m of true darkness · 12h 9m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:29
Civil Dusk17:51
Nautical18:15
Full Dark18:40
Nadir23:34
Dark Ends04:27
Nautical04:52
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%
ALTITUDE5.2°
DISTANCE379,705 km
Moonrise15:14
Moonset03:36
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX9% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
89/100
Pristine dark skies with clear transparency. Ideal for astrophotography & faint deep sky targets.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -34.3° | 105° | Libra | 05:35 | 11:24 | 17:18 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 28.4° | 79° | Leo | 01:12 | 07:23 | 13:34 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 17.3° | 269° | Pisces | 16:19 | 22:22 | 04:24 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Optimal Visibility | 1.0 | 36.6° | 75° | Cancer | 00:35 | 06:49 | 13:03 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -54.0° | 113° | Libra | 07:03 | 12:49 | 18:40 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 67.7° | 303° | Taurus | 19:37 | 01:53 | 08:09 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Rising / Setting | 7.8 | 9.7° | 268° | Pisces | 15:51 | 21:52 | 03:53 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:14
BEST TIME21:24S · 81° high
SETS03:36
Reaches about 81° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:12
BEST TIME07:23N · 85° high
SETS13:34
Reaches about 85° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:19
BEST TIME22:22S · 82° high
SETS04:24
Reaches about 82° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:35
BEST TIME11:24S · 63° high
SETS17:18
Reaches about 63° 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 TIME06:49N · 82° high
SETS13:03
Reaches about 82° 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.
