Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-49.6° (< −18°)
02:12:31
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 51m of true darkness · 12h 14m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:20
Civil Dusk17:42
Nautical18:07
Full Dark18:32
Nadir23:28
Dark Ends04:23
Nautical04:48
Civil Dawn05:13
Sunrise05:35
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE17.8°
DISTANCE379,927 km
Moonrise15:08
Moonset03:31
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX28% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
82/100
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 | -48.1° | 103° | Libra | 05:34 | 11:18 | 17:08 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 16.1° | 79° | Leo | 01:02 | 07:17 | 13:32 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 30.3° | 264° | Pisces | 16:13 | 22:16 | 04:18 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 24.7° | 76° | Cancer | 00:24 | 06:43 | 13:02 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -67.6° | 114° | Libra | 07:02 | 12:44 | 18:29 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 79.9° | 324° | Taurus | 19:25 | 01:47 | 08:08 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.6° | 264° | Pisces | 15:45 | 21:46 | 03:47 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:08
BEST TIME21:18S · 78° high
SETS03:31
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:02
BEST TIME07:17N · 89° high
SETS13:32
Reaches about 89° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:13
BEST TIME22:16S · 79° high
SETS04:18
Reaches about 79° 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 TIME11:18S · 59° high
SETS17:08
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:24
BEST TIME06:43N · 85° high
SETS13:02
Reaches about 85° 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.
