Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-14.8° (−12° to −18°)
19:08:47
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 3m of true darkness · 13h 58m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:29
Civil Dusk18:05
Nautical18:46
Full Dark19:26
Nadir00:28
Dark Ends05:29
Nautical06:10
Civil Dawn06:51
Sunrise07:27
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE23.6°
DISTANCE380,166 km
Moonrise16:15
Moonset05:06
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX37% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
69/100
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 | -20.9° | 268° | Libra | 08:04 | 12:22 | 16:41 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -20.0° | 342° | Leo | 00:52 | 08:19 | 15:44 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 17.6° | 113° | Pisces | 17:04 | 23:14 | 05:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -17.7° | 351° | Cancer | 23:55 | 07:44 | 15:32 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.9° | 250° | Libra | 09:47 | 13:46 | 17:46 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 3.5° | 58° | Taurus | 18:37 | 02:46 | 10:58 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 20.0° | 120° | Pisces | 16:44 | 22:45 | 04:45 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:15
BEST TIME22:31S · 38° high
SETS05:06
Reaches about 38° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:52
BEST TIME08:19S · 51° high
SETS15:44
Reaches about 51° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:04
BEST TIME23:14S · 38° high
SETS05:25
Reaches about 38° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:04
BEST TIME12:22S · 18° high
SETS16:41
Only reaches about 18° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:55
BEST TIME07:44S · 55° high
SETS15:32
Reaches about 55° 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.
