Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-48.0° (< −18°)
02:31:27
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 54m of true darkness · 12h 19m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:31
Civil Dusk17:52
Nautical18:18
Full Dark18:43
Nadir23:40
Dark Ends04:37
Nautical05:02
Civil Dawn05:28
Sunrise05:49
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE16.3°
DISTANCE379,857 km
Moonrise15:21
Moonset03:44
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX26% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
83/100
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 | -47.0° | 100° | Libra | 05:50 | 11:30 | 17:17 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 18.2° | 80° | Leo | 01:12 | 07:29 | 13:47 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 28.4° | 263° | Pisces | 16:25 | 22:28 | 04:31 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 26.9° | 77° | Cancer | 00:33 | 06:56 | 13:18 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -67.0° | 107° | Libra | 07:18 | 12:56 | 18:37 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 80.6° | 307° | Taurus | 19:33 | 01:59 | 08:25 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.7° | 264° | Pisces | 15:57 | 21:58 | 03:59 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:21
BEST TIME21:31S · 75° high
SETS03:44
Reaches about 75° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:12
BEST TIME07:29S · 89° high
SETS13:47
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
RISES16:25
BEST TIME22:28S · 76° high
SETS04:31
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
RISES05:50
BEST TIME11:30S · 57° high
SETS17:17
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
RISES00:33
BEST TIME06:56N · 88° high
SETS13:18
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.
