Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-66.9° (< −18°)
01:10:08
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 56m of true darkness · 12h 22m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:27
Civil Dusk17:49
Nautical18:14
Full Dark18:40
Nadir23:38
Dark Ends04:36
Nautical05:01
Civil Dawn05:27
Sunrise05:49
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE34.4°
DISTANCE380,161 km
Moonrise15:19
Moonset03:42
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX52% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -66.2° | 96° | Libra | 05:50 | 11:28 | 17:12 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 0.4° | 75° | Leo | 01:07 | 07:27 | 13:50 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 46.7° | 253° | Pisces | 16:23 | 22:26 | 04:29 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 8.9° | 74° | Cancer | 00:29 | 06:53 | 13:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -84.9° | 139° | Libra | 07:19 | 12:54 | 18:32 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 78.2° | 69° | Taurus | 19:28 | 01:57 | 08:25 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 39.1° | 255° | Pisces | 15:55 | 21:56 | 03:57 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:19
BEST TIME21:28S · 73° high
SETS03:42
Reaches about 73° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:07
BEST TIME07:27S · 87° high
SETS13:50
Reaches about 87° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:23
BEST TIME22:26S · 74° high
SETS04:29
Reaches about 74° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:50
BEST TIME11:28S · 55° high
SETS17:12
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:29
BEST TIME06:53N · 89° high
SETS13:20
Reaches about 89° 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.
