Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-64.6° (< −18°)
01:25:40
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 54m of true darkness · 12h 19m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:34
Civil Dusk17:55
Nautical18:21
Full Dark18:46
Nadir23:43
Dark Ends04:40
Nautical05:05
Civil Dawn05:30
Sunrise05:52
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.3°
DISTANCE380,103 km
Moonrise15:24
Moonset03:47
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX49% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -63.5° | 100° | Libra | 05:53 | 11:33 | 17:20 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 2.2° | 76° | Leo | 01:15 | 07:32 | 13:53 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 44.7° | 256° | Pisces | 16:28 | 22:31 | 04:34 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 10.8° | 74° | Cancer | 00:36 | 06:58 | 13:21 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -81.8° | 135° | Libra | 07:21 | 12:59 | 18:40 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 79.6° | 56° | Taurus | 19:36 | 02:02 | 08:28 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 37.1° | 258° | Pisces | 16:00 | 22:01 | 04:02 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:24
BEST TIME21:34S · 75° high
SETS03:47
Reaches about 75° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:15
BEST TIME07:32S · 89° high
SETS13:53
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
RISES16:28
BEST TIME22:31S · 76° high
SETS04:34
Reaches about 76° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:53
BEST TIME11:33S · 57° high
SETS17:20
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:36
BEST TIME06:58N · 88° high
SETS13:21
Reaches about 88° 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.
