Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-52.3° (< −18°)
01:59:06
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 47m of true darkness · 12h 9m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:22
Civil Dusk17:43
Nautical18:08
Full Dark18:33
Nadir23:26
Dark Ends04:20
Nautical04:45
Civil Dawn05:10
Sunrise05:31
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE20.8°
DISTANCE379,978 km
Moonrise15:07
Moonset03:29
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX33% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
80/100
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 | -50.2° | 107° | Libra | 05:29 | 11:17 | 17:11 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 12.5° | 77° | Leo | 01:04 | 07:16 | 13:27 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 33.5° | 265° | Pisces | 16:12 | 22:14 | 04:17 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 21.0° | 74° | Cancer | 00:28 | 06:42 | 12:57 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -68.6° | 124° | Libra | 06:56 | 12:42 | 18:33 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 78.3° | 345° | Taurus | 19:29 | 01:46 | 08:02 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 25.9° | 265° | Pisces | 15:44 | 21:45 | 03:46 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:07
BEST TIME21:17S · 81° high
SETS03:29
Reaches about 81° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:04
BEST TIME07:16N · 85° high
SETS13:27
Reaches about 85° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:12
BEST TIME22:14S · 82° high
SETS04:17
Reaches about 82° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:29
BEST TIME11:17S · 63° high
SETS17:11
Reaches about 63° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:28
BEST TIME06:42N · 82° high
SETS12:57
Reaches about 82° 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.
