Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-15.7° (−12° to −18°)
19:15:26
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 42m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:38
Civil Dusk18:11
Nautical18:49
Full Dark19:26
Nadir00:29
Dark Ends05:32
Nautical06:10
Civil Dawn06:47
Sunrise07:20
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE26.3°
DISTANCE380,141 km
Moonrise16:17
Moonset05:04
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
67/100
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 | -21.7° | 268° | Libra | 07:52 | 12:23 | 16:56 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.7° | 343° | Leo | 01:04 | 08:21 | 15:34 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.8° | 113° | Pisces | 17:06 | 23:16 | 05:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -21.4° | 352° | Cancer | 00:11 | 07:46 | 15:19 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.4° | 250° | Libra | 09:32 | 13:47 | 18:03 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 2.3° | 59° | Taurus | 18:56 | 02:47 | 10:42 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.6° | 120° | Pisces | 16:45 | 22:46 | 04:46 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:17
BEST TIME22:32S · 42° high
SETS05:04
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:04
BEST TIME08:21S · 55° high
SETS15:34
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
RISES17:06
BEST TIME23:16S · 42° high
SETS05:25
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
RISES07:52
BEST TIME12:23S · 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
RISES00:11
BEST TIME07:46S · 58° high
SETS15:19
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.
