Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-56.7° (< −18°)
01:58:46
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 53m of true darkness · 12h 16m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:35
Civil Dusk17:57
Nautical18:22
Full Dark18:47
Nadir23:43
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%
ALTITUDE24.8°
DISTANCE379,979 km
Moonrise15:24
Moonset03:47
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX39% · 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 | -55.3° | 102° | Libra | 05:51 | 11:34 | 17:22 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Rising / Setting | -2.0 | 9.4° | 77° | Leo | 01:17 | 07:33 | 13:49 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 37.2° | 261° | Pisces | 16:28 | 22:31 | 04:34 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 18.1° | 75° | Cancer | 00:39 | 06:59 | 13:19 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -74.5° | 119° | Libra | 07:19 | 12:59 | 18:43 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 82.8° | 7° | Taurus | 19:39 | 02:02 | 08:25 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.6° | 262° | Pisces | 16:00 | 22:01 | 04:02 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:24
BEST TIME21:34S · 77° high
SETS03:47
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:17
BEST TIME07:33N · 89° high
SETS13:49
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
RISES16:28
BEST TIME22:31S · 78° high
SETS04:34
Reaches about 78° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES05:51
BEST TIME11:34S · 58° high
SETS17:22
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:39
BEST TIME06:59N · 86° high
SETS13:19
Reaches about 86° 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.
