Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-32.9° (< −18°)
21:05:53
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 43m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:39
Civil Dusk18:12
Nautical18:50
Full Dark19:27
Nadir00:30
Dark Ends05:33
Nautical06:11
Civil Dawn06:49
Sunrise07:22
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE38.3°
DISTANCE379,728 km
Moonrise16:18
Moonset05:06
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX58% · 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 | -39.1° | 291° | Libra | 07:46 | 12:25 | 16:56 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -24.4° | 12° | Leo | 01:05 | 08:18 | 15:36 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 34.0° | 139° | Pisces | 17:08 | 23:17 | 05:26 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -19.4° | 20° | Cancer | 00:12 | 07:45 | 15:21 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -27.9° | 271° | Libra | 09:33 | 13:48 | 18:04 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 18.5° | 79° | Taurus | 18:57 | 02:48 | 10:43 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 35.2° | 148° | Pisces | 16:46 | 22:47 | 04:48 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:18
BEST TIME22:34S · 42° high
SETS05:06
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:05
BEST TIME08:18S · 55° high
SETS15:36
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:08
BEST TIME23:17S · 42° high
SETS05:26
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:46
BEST TIME12:25S · 22° high
SETS16:56
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
RISES00:12
BEST TIME07:45S · 58° high
SETS15:21
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.
