Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-60.7° (< −18°)
01:32:09
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
Sunset17:31
Civil Dusk17:53
Nautical18:17
Full Dark18:42
Nadir23:34
Dark Ends04:27
Nautical04:52
Civil Dawn05:16
Sunrise05:38
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE29.3°
DISTANCE380,078 km
Moonrise15:15
Moonset03:37
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX45% · 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 | -58.0° | 111° | Libra | 05:34 | 11:25 | 17:21 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 3.9° | 76° | Leo | 01:14 | 07:24 | 13:37 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 42.3° | 265° | Pisces | 16:20 | 22:22 | 04:24 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 12.3° | 73° | Cancer | 00:38 | 06:50 | 13:02 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -73.9° | 145° | Libra | 07:01 | 12:50 | 18:43 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 76.0° | 22° | Taurus | 19:40 | 01:54 | 08:07 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.7° | 264° | Pisces | 15:52 | 21:53 | 03:54 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:15
BEST TIME21:25S · 83° high
SETS03:37
Reaches about 83° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:14
BEST TIME07:24N · 84° high
SETS13:37
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
RISES16:20
BEST TIME22:22S · 83° high
SETS04:24
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
RISES05:34
BEST TIME11:25S · 64° high
SETS17:21
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
RISES00:38
BEST TIME06:50N · 80° high
SETS13:02
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.
