Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-12.7° (−12° to −18°)
19:03:56
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 52m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:41
Civil Dusk18:16
Nautical18:55
Full Dark19:35
Nadir00:37
Dark Ends05:39
Nautical06:19
Civil Dawn06:58
Sunrise07:33
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE22.5°
DISTANCE380,184 km
Moonrise16:25
Moonset05:14
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX35% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
70/100
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 | -18.7° | 265° | Libra | 08:08 | 12:31 | 16:55 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -20.5° | 338° | Leo | 01:05 | 08:28 | 15:49 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 16.1° | 109° | Pisces | 17:14 | 23:23 | 05:33 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.6° | 348° | Cancer | 00:10 | 07:54 | 15:36 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -8.4° | 247° | Libra | 09:50 | 13:55 | 18:01 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 1.1° | 55° | Taurus | 18:53 | 02:55 | 11:00 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 18.8° | 117° | Pisces | 16:53 | 22:54 | 04:54 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:25
BEST TIME22:40S · 40° high
SETS05:14
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:05
BEST TIME08:28S · 52° high
SETS15:49
Reaches about 52° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:14
BEST TIME23:23S · 39° high
SETS05:33
Reaches about 39° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:08
BEST TIME12:31S · 20° high
SETS16:55
Only reaches about 20° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:10
BEST TIME07:54S · 56° high
SETS15:36
Reaches about 56° 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.
