Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-58.0° (< −18°)
01:40:09
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 47m of true darkness · 12h 8m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:27
Civil Dusk17:48
Nautical18:13
Full Dark18:38
Nadir23:31
Dark Ends04:24
Nautical04:49
Civil Dawn05:14
Sunrise05:35
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE26.5°
DISTANCE380,049 km
Moonrise15:11
Moonset03:34
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
77/100
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 | -55.6° | 109° | Libra | 05:32 | 11:21 | 17:16 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 6.8° | 76° | Leo | 01:09 | 07:20 | 13:31 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 39.4° | 264° | Pisces | 16:17 | 22:19 | 04:21 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 15.3° | 74° | Cancer | 00:33 | 06:47 | 13:00 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -72.8° | 135° | Libra | 07:00 | 12:47 | 18:38 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 77.9° | 12° | Taurus | 19:35 | 01:50 | 08:06 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.7° | 264° | Pisces | 15:48 | 21:49 | 03:50 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:11
BEST TIME21:21S · 81° high
SETS03:34
Reaches about 81° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:09
BEST TIME07:20N · 85° high
SETS13:31
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
RISES16:17
BEST TIME22:19S · 82° high
SETS04:21
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
RISES05:32
BEST TIME11:21S · 63° high
SETS17:16
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
RISES00:33
BEST TIME06:47N · 81° high
SETS13:00
Reaches about 81° 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.
