Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-32.3° (< −18°)
03:17:13
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 42m of true darkness · 12h 3m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:24
Civil Dusk17:45
Nautical18:10
Full Dark18:34
Nadir23:26
Dark Ends04:17
Nautical04:41
Civil Dawn05:06
Sunrise05:27
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE2.1°
DISTANCE379,686 km
Moonrise15:48
Moonset03:28
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX3% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
91/100
Pristine dark skies with clear transparency. Ideal for astrophotography & faint deep sky targets.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -30.2° | 107° | Libra | 05:23 | 11:16 | 17:15 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Optimal Visibility | -2.0 | 30.8° | 77° | Leo | 01:07 | 07:15 | 13:23 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 14.1° | 270° | Pisces | 16:12 | 22:14 | 04:15 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Optimal Visibility | 1.0 | 38.7° | 72° | Cancer | 00:31 | 06:41 | 12:51 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -49.6° | 116° | Libra | 06:49 | 12:42 | 18:37 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 63.1° | 306° | Taurus | 19:34 | 01:45 | 07:55 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Rising / Setting | 7.8 | 6.6° | 269° | Pisces | 15:43 | 21:44 | 03:45 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:48
BEST TIME21:16S · 85° high
SETS03:28
Reaches about 85° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:07
BEST TIME07:15N · 82° high
SETS13:23
Reaches about 82° 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 · 85° high
SETS04:15
Reaches about 85° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:23
BEST TIME11:16S · 66° high
SETS17:15
Reaches about 66° 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 TIME06:41N · 78° high
SETS12:51
Reaches about 78° 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.
