Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-43.7° (< −18°)
02:34:09
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
Sunset17:25
Civil Dusk17:46
Nautical18:11
Full Dark18:35
Nadir23:28
Dark Ends04:20
Nautical04:45
Civil Dawn05:09
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%
ALTITUDE12.8°
DISTANCE379,847 km
Moonrise15:08
Moonset03:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX21% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
84/100
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 | -41.6° | 107° | Libra | 05:27 | 11:18 | 17:15 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 20.2° | 77° | Leo | 01:08 | 07:17 | 13:27 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.4° | 268° | Pisces | 16:14 | 22:16 | 04:18 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 28.4° | 74° | Cancer | 00:32 | 06:44 | 12:55 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -60.4° | 120° | Libra | 06:54 | 12:44 | 18:37 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 72.5° | 321° | Taurus | 19:34 | 01:47 | 08:00 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 17.7° | 267° | Pisces | 15:45 | 21:46 | 03:47 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:08
BEST TIME21:18S · 83° high
SETS03:30
Reaches about 83° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:08
BEST TIME07:17N · 83° high
SETS13:27
Reaches about 83° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:14
BEST TIME22:16S · 84° high
SETS04:18
Reaches about 84° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:27
BEST TIME11:18S · 65° high
SETS17:15
Reaches about 65° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:32
BEST TIME06:44N · 80° high
SETS12:55
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.
