Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-39.6° (< −18°)
03:01:54
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 53m of true darkness · 12h 16m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:28
Civil Dusk17:50
Nautical18:15
Full Dark18:40
Nadir23:36
Dark Ends04:32
Nautical04:57
Civil Dawn05:23
Sunrise05:44
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE8.3°
DISTANCE379,743 km
Moonrise15:17
Moonset03:40
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX13% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
87/100
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 | -38.5° | 102° | Libra | 05:44 | 11:27 | 17:15 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 26.1° | 81° | Leo | 01:10 | 07:26 | 13:42 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 20.3° | 266° | Pisces | 16:21 | 22:24 | 04:27 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Optimal Visibility | 1.0 | 34.6° | 78° | Cancer | 00:32 | 06:52 | 13:12 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -58.5° | 108° | Libra | 07:12 | 12:52 | 18:36 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 72.7° | 297° | Taurus | 19:32 | 01:55 | 08:18 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 12.6° | 266° | Pisces | 15:53 | 21:54 | 03:55 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:17
BEST TIME21:27S · 77° high
SETS03:40
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:10
BEST TIME07:26N · 90° high
SETS13:42
Reaches about 90° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:21
BEST TIME22:24S · 78° high
SETS04:27
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:44
BEST TIME11:27S · 58° high
SETS17:15
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:32
BEST TIME06:52N · 86° high
SETS13:12
Reaches about 86° 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.
