Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-57.9° (< −18°)
01:52:08
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 55m of true darkness · 12h 19m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:32
Civil Dusk17:54
Nautical18:19
Full Dark18:44
Nadir23:41
Dark Ends04:39
Nautical05:04
Civil Dawn05:29
Sunrise05:51
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE25.7°
DISTANCE380,004 km
Moonrise15:22
Moonset03:46
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX40% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
78/100
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 | -56.8° | 99° | Libra | 05:52 | 11:32 | 17:18 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 8.7° | 77° | Leo | 01:13 | 07:31 | 13:52 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 38.0° | 259° | Pisces | 16:26 | 22:29 | 04:32 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 17.4° | 76° | Cancer | 00:34 | 06:57 | 13:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -76.3° | 115° | Libra | 07:20 | 12:57 | 18:38 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 84.3° | 21° | Taurus | 19:34 | 02:00 | 08:27 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 30.4° | 260° | Pisces | 15:59 | 22:00 | 04:00 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:22
BEST TIME21:32S · 75° high
SETS03:46
Reaches about 75° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:13
BEST TIME07:31S · 89° high
SETS13:52
Reaches about 89° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:26
BEST TIME22:29S · 76° high
SETS04:32
Reaches about 76° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:52
BEST TIME11:32S · 57° high
SETS17:18
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:34
BEST TIME06:57N · 88° high
SETS13:20
Reaches about 88° 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.
