Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-16.9° (−12° to −18°)
19:26:03
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 2m of true darkness · 14h 3m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:29
Civil Dusk18:06
Nautical18:48
Full Dark19:30
Nadir00:31
Dark Ends05:32
Nautical06:13
Civil Dawn06:55
Sunrise07:32
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE24.6°
DISTANCE380,101 km
Moonrise16:18
Moonset05:10
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX39% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
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 | -23.1° | 272° | Libra | 08:12 | 12:25 | 16:39 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -19.4° | 346° | Leo | 00:50 | 08:22 | 15:50 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.1° | 116° | Pisces | 17:06 | 23:17 | 05:28 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -16.7° | 355° | Cancer | 23:53 | 07:47 | 15:40 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.3° | 253° | Libra | 09:55 | 13:49 | 17:42 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 5.8° | 61° | Taurus | 18:33 | 02:48 | 11:07 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 21.2° | 124° | Pisces | 16:47 | 22:47 | 04:48 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:18
BEST TIME22:34S · 37° high
SETS05:10
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:50
BEST TIME08:22S · 50° high
SETS15:50
Reaches about 50° 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 TIME23:17S · 37° high
SETS05:28
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:12
BEST TIME12:25S · 17° high
SETS16:39
Only reaches about 17° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:53
BEST TIME07:47S · 53° high
SETS15:40
Reaches about 53° 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.
