Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-35.6° (< −18°)
21:16:47
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 44m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:30
Civil Dusk18:03
Nautical18:41
Full Dark19:19
Nadir00:22
Dark Ends05:25
Nautical06:02
Civil Dawn06:40
Sunrise07:14
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE39.3°
DISTANCE379,688 km
Moonrise16:10
Moonset04:57
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX59% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
71/100
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 | -41.9° | 296° | Libra | 07:38 | 12:16 | 16:47 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.3° | 17° | Leo | 00:55 | 08:10 | 15:28 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 35.7° | 145° | Pisces | 16:59 | 23:08 | 05:17 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.0° | 25° | Cancer | 00:02 | 07:37 | 15:13 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -31.0° | 275° | Libra | 09:26 | 13:40 | 17:54 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 21.7° | 83° | Taurus | 18:47 | 02:39 | 10:36 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 36.4° | 154° | Pisces | 16:38 | 22:39 | 04:39 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:10
BEST TIME22:25S · 42° high
SETS04:57
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:55
BEST TIME08:10S · 54° high
SETS15:28
Reaches about 54° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:59
BEST TIME23:08S · 41° high
SETS05:17
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:38
BEST TIME12:16S · 22° high
SETS16:47
Reaches about 22° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:02
BEST TIME07:37S · 58° high
SETS15:13
Reaches about 58° 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.
