Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-66.1° (< −18°)
01:12:53
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 50m of true darkness · 12h 12m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:29
Civil Dusk17:51
Nautical18:16
Full Dark18:41
Nadir23:35
Dark Ends04:30
Nautical04:55
Civil Dawn05:20
Sunrise05:42
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE34.0°
DISTANCE380,151 km
Moonrise15:16
Moonset03:39
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX52% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -63.9° | 107° | Libra | 05:40 | 11:26 | 17:17 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 0.2° | 75° | Leo | 01:11 | 07:25 | 13:42 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 46.8° | 260° | Pisces | 16:21 | 22:23 | 04:26 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 8.5° | 73° | Cancer | 00:34 | 06:51 | 13:08 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -79.5° | 154° | Libra | 07:08 | 12:51 | 18:39 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 76.2° | 46° | Taurus | 19:35 | 01:55 | 08:14 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 39.1° | 260° | Pisces | 15:53 | 21:54 | 03:55 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:16
BEST TIME21:26S · 79° high
SETS03:39
Reaches about 79° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:11
BEST TIME07:25N · 87° high
SETS13:42
Reaches about 87° 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 TIME22:23S · 80° high
SETS04:26
Reaches about 80° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:40
BEST TIME11:26S · 61° high
SETS17:17
Reaches about 61° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:34
BEST TIME06:51N · 84° high
SETS13:08
Reaches about 84° 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.
