Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-61.6° (< −18°)
01:31:26
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 53m of true darkness · 12h 16m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:28
Civil Dusk17:49
Nautical18:14
Full Dark18:39
Nadir23:36
Dark Ends04:32
Nautical04:57
Civil Dawn05:22
Sunrise05:44
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE29.4°
DISTANCE380,081 km
Moonrise15:16
Moonset03:39
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 | -60.1° | 102° | Libra | 05:43 | 11:26 | 17:14 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 4.8° | 76° | Leo | 01:09 | 07:25 | 13:44 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 41.9° | 259° | Pisces | 16:21 | 22:24 | 04:26 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 13.4° | 75° | Cancer | 00:31 | 06:51 | 13:11 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -78.5° | 130° | Libra | 07:12 | 12:52 | 18:35 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 80.9° | 38° | Taurus | 19:32 | 01:55 | 08:18 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.3° | 260° | Pisces | 15:53 | 21:54 | 03:55 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:16
BEST TIME21:26S · 77° high
SETS03:39
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:09
BEST TIME07:25N · 90° high
SETS13:44
Reaches about 90° 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 TIME22:24S · 78° high
SETS04:26
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:43
BEST TIME11:26S · 58° high
SETS17:14
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:31
BEST TIME06:51N · 86° high
SETS13:11
Reaches about 86° 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.
