Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-46.3° (< −18°)
02:15:08
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 46m of true darkness · 12h 7m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:15
Civil Dusk17:37
Nautical18:01
Full Dark18:26
Nadir23:19
Dark Ends04:12
Nautical04:36
Civil Dawn05:01
Sunrise05:22
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE15.2°
DISTANCE379,918 km
Moonrise14:59
Moonset03:21
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX24% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
83/100
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 | -44.3° | 107° | Libra | 05:20 | 11:09 | 17:05 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 18.0° | 78° | Leo | 00:58 | 07:08 | 13:19 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 27.8° | 267° | Pisces | 16:05 | 22:07 | 04:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 26.3° | 74° | Cancer | 00:22 | 06:35 | 12:48 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -63.1° | 120° | Libra | 06:47 | 12:35 | 18:27 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 74.7° | 326° | Taurus | 19:24 | 01:38 | 07:53 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.2° | 266° | Pisces | 15:36 | 21:37 | 03:38 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES14:59
BEST TIME21:09S · 82° high
SETS03:21
Reaches about 82° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:58
BEST TIME07:08N · 84° high
SETS13:19
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 TIME22:07S · 83° high
SETS04:09
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 TIME11:09S · 64° high
SETS17:05
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
RISES00:22
BEST TIME06:35N · 81° high
SETS12:48
Reaches about 81° 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.
