Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-29.4° (< −18°)
20:33:56
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 50m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:23
Civil Dusk17:57
Nautical18:36
Full Dark19:15
Nadir00:18
Dark Ends05:20
Nautical05:59
Civil Dawn06:38
Sunrise07:13
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE35.0°
DISTANCE379,848 km
Moonrise16:05
Moonset04:54
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX53% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
73/100
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 | -35.5° | 288° | Libra | 07:39 | 12:12 | 16:38 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.1° | 7° | Leo | 00:47 | 08:06 | 15:28 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 30.5° | 135° | Pisces | 16:55 | 23:04 | 05:14 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.6° | 15° | Cancer | 23:52 | 07:33 | 15:15 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -24.8° | 268° | Libra | 09:29 | 13:36 | 17:44 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 15.9° | 76° | Taurus | 18:36 | 02:36 | 10:39 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.9° | 143° | Pisces | 16:34 | 22:35 | 04:35 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:05
BEST TIME22:21S · 40° high
SETS04:54
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:47
BEST TIME08:06S · 53° high
SETS15:28
Reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:55
BEST TIME23:04S · 40° high
SETS05:14
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:39
BEST TIME12:12S · 20° high
SETS16:38
Reaches about 20° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:52
BEST TIME07:33S · 56° high
SETS15:15
Reaches about 56° 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.
