Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-61.4° (< −18°)
01:14:26
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 45m of true darkness · 12h 6m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:16
Civil Dusk17:38
Nautical18:02
Full Dark18:27
Nadir23:19
Dark Ends04:12
Nautical04:37
Civil Dawn05:01
Sunrise05:23
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE29.9°
DISTANCE380,145 km
Moonrise15:00
Moonset03:22
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX46% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
76/100
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 | -58.6° | 112° | Libra | 05:20 | 11:10 | 17:06 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 3.2° | 76° | Leo | 00:59 | 07:09 | 13:22 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 43.0° | 264° | Pisces | 16:05 | 22:08 | 04:10 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 11.6° | 73° | Cancer | 00:23 | 06:35 | 12:47 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -74.2° | 147° | Libra | 06:46 | 12:35 | 18:28 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 75.7° | 24° | Taurus | 19:25 | 01:39 | 07:52 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 35.4° | 264° | Pisces | 15:37 | 21:38 | 03:39 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:00
BEST TIME21:10S · 83° high
SETS03:22
Reaches about 83° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:59
BEST TIME07:09N · 84° high
SETS13:22
Reaches about 84° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:05
BEST TIME22:08S · 83° high
SETS04:10
Reaches about 83° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:20
BEST TIME11:10S · 64° high
SETS17:06
Reaches about 64° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:23
BEST TIME06:35N · 80° high
SETS12:47
Reaches about 80° 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.
