Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-41.3° (< −18°)
03:03:39
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 55m of true darkness · 12h 20m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:35
Civil Dusk17:57
Nautical18:22
Full Dark18:47
Nadir23:45
Dark Ends04:42
Nautical05:07
Civil Dawn05:32
Sunrise05:54
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE9.9°
DISTANCE379,737 km
Moonrise15:26
Moonset03:49
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX16% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
86/100
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 | -40.4° | 100° | Libra | 05:55 | 11:35 | 17:21 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 24.8° | 81° | Leo | 01:16 | 07:34 | 13:52 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.7° | 265° | Pisces | 16:30 | 22:32 | 04:35 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Optimal Visibility | 1.0 | 33.5° | 79° | Cancer | 00:37 | 07:00 | 13:23 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -60.6° | 105° | Libra | 07:24 | 13:00 | 18:41 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 75.0° | 292° | Taurus | 19:37 | 02:04 | 08:30 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 14.1° | 266° | Pisces | 16:02 | 22:03 | 04:04 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:26
BEST TIME21:35S · 75° high
SETS03:49
Reaches about 75° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:16
BEST TIME07:34S · 89° high
SETS13:52
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
RISES16:30
BEST TIME22:32S · 76° high
SETS04:35
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
RISES05:55
BEST TIME11:35S · 56° high
SETS17:21
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:37
BEST TIME07:00N · 88° high
SETS13:23
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.
