Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-51.2° (< −18°)
01:54:22
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 43m of true darkness · 12h 4m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:17
Civil Dusk17:39
Nautical18:03
Full Dark18:28
Nadir23:19
Dark Ends04:11
Nautical04:35
Civil Dawn05:00
Sunrise05:21
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE20.3°
DISTANCE379,995 km
Moonrise14:59
Moonset03:21
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX32% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
81/100
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 | -48.6° | 110° | Libra | 05:17 | 11:10 | 17:08 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 12.4° | 77° | Leo | 01:01 | 07:09 | 13:17 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 33.2° | 268° | Pisces | 16:05 | 22:07 | 04:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 20.7° | 73° | Cancer | 00:25 | 06:35 | 12:45 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -66.2° | 130° | Libra | 06:44 | 12:35 | 18:31 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 74.9° | 346° | Taurus | 19:27 | 01:38 | 07:50 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 25.6° | 266° | Pisces | 15:36 | 21:38 | 03:39 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES14:59
BEST TIME21:09S · 84° high
SETS03:21
Reaches about 84° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:01
BEST TIME07:09N · 82° high
SETS13:17
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
RISES16:05
BEST TIME22:07S · 85° high
SETS04:09
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
RISES05:17
BEST TIME11:10S · 66° high
SETS17:08
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
RISES00:25
BEST TIME06:35N · 79° high
SETS12:45
Reaches about 79° 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.
