Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-31.8° (< −18°)
20:47:38
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 41m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:30
Civil Dusk18:03
Nautical18:40
Full Dark19:17
Nadir00:20
Dark Ends05:24
Nautical06:01
Civil Dawn06:38
Sunrise07:11
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE37.8°
DISTANCE379,796 km
Moonrise16:08
Moonset04:55
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX57% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
72/100
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 | -37.9° | 289° | Libra | 07:35 | 12:15 | 16:48 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -25.0° | 10° | Leo | 00:56 | 08:09 | 15:25 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 33.3° | 137° | Pisces | 16:58 | 23:07 | 05:16 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -20.2° | 18° | Cancer | 00:03 | 07:35 | 15:10 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -26.5° | 269° | Libra | 09:22 | 13:39 | 17:55 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 17.1° | 78° | Taurus | 18:48 | 02:38 | 10:32 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.7° | 146° | Pisces | 16:37 | 22:37 | 04:38 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:08
BEST TIME22:23S · 42° high
SETS04:55
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:56
BEST TIME08:09S · 55° high
SETS15:25
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
RISES16:58
BEST TIME23:07S · 42° high
SETS05:16
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
RISES07:35
BEST TIME12:15S · 22° high
SETS16:48
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
RISES00:03
BEST TIME07:35S · 58° high
SETS15:10
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.
