Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-69.0° (< −18°)
00:50:27
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
Sunset17:18
Civil Dusk17:39
Nautical18:04
Full Dark18:29
Nadir23:25
Dark Ends04:20
Nautical04:45
Civil Dawn05:10
Sunrise05:32
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE36.5°
DISTANCE380,235 km
Moonrise15:05
Moonset03:28
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX55% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
73/100
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 | -67.0° | 107° | Libra | 05:31 | 11:15 | 17:05 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -2.2° | 75° | Leo | 01:00 | 07:14 | 13:32 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 49.4° | 257° | Pisces | 16:10 | 22:13 | 04:15 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 6.1° | 73° | Cancer | 00:22 | 06:40 | 13:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -81.3° | 168° | Libra | 06:59 | 12:41 | 18:26 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 74.6° | 55° | Taurus | 19:23 | 01:44 | 08:05 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 41.8° | 258° | Pisces | 15:42 | 21:43 | 03:44 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:05
BEST TIME21:15S · 78° high
SETS03:28
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:00
BEST TIME07:14N · 88° high
SETS13:32
Reaches about 88° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:10
BEST TIME22:13S · 79° high
SETS04:15
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
RISES05:31
BEST TIME11:15S · 60° high
SETS17:05
Reaches about 60° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:22
BEST TIME06:40N · 85° high
SETS13:01
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.
