Sky background remains dark; faint nebulae and distant galaxies are distinct.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-44.4° (< −18°)
02:33:30
Sat, Oct 24, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 52m of true darkness · 12h 16m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:20
Civil Dusk17:41
Nautical18:06
Full Dark18:31
Nadir23:27
Dark Ends04:24
Nautical04:48
Civil Dawn05:14
Sunrise05:35
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE12.8°
DISTANCE379,849 km
Moonrise15:08
Moonset03:31
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX21% · Minimal Lunar Glare
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
84/100
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 | -43.2° | 102° | Libra | 05:35 | 11:18 | 17:07 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Visible Low | -2.0 | 21.3° | 80° | Leo | 01:01 | 07:17 | 13:33 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.0° | 265° | Pisces | 16:13 | 22:15 | 04:18 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Visible Low | 1.0 | 29.9° | 77° | Cancer | 00:23 | 06:43 | 13:03 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -63.0° | 110° | Libra | 07:03 | 12:43 | 18:27 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 76.7° | 305° | Taurus | 19:24 | 01:47 | 08:09 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 17.4° | 265° | Pisces | 15:45 | 21:46 | 03:47 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES15:08
BEST TIME21:18S · 77° high
SETS03:31
Reaches about 77° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Minimal Lunar Glare.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:01
BEST TIME07:17N · 89° high
SETS13:33
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
RISES16:13
BEST TIME22:15S · 78° high
SETS04:18
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
RISES05:35
BEST TIME11:18S · 59° high
SETS17:07
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:23
BEST TIME06:43N · 86° high
SETS13:03
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.
