Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-18.3° (< −18°)
19:30:57
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 46m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:36
Civil Dusk18:09
Nautical18:48
Full Dark19:26
Nadir00:29
Dark Ends05:32
Nautical06:10
Civil Dawn06:48
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%
ALTITUDE27.9°
DISTANCE380,083 km
Moonrise16:16
Moonset05:05
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
77/100
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 | -24.3° | 272° | Libra | 07:55 | 12:23 | 16:52 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.5° | 347° | Leo | 01:01 | 08:20 | 15:36 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.7° | 116° | Pisces | 17:06 | 23:15 | 05:24 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -20.8° | 356° | Cancer | 00:07 | 07:45 | 15:22 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.1° | 254° | Libra | 09:35 | 13:47 | 17:59 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 4.9° | 62° | Taurus | 18:51 | 02:46 | 10:45 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.3° | 124° | Pisces | 16:45 | 22:45 | 04:46 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:16
BEST TIME22:32S · 41° high
SETS05:05
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:01
BEST TIME08:20S · 54° high
SETS15:36
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
RISES17:06
BEST TIME23:15S · 41° high
SETS05:24
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
RISES07:55
BEST TIME12:23S · 21° high
SETS16:52
Reaches about 21° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:07
BEST TIME07:45S · 57° high
SETS15:22
Reaches about 57° 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.
