Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-22.6° (< −18°)
19:53:52
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 50m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:28
Civil Dusk18:02
Nautical18:41
Full Dark19:20
Nadir00:23
Dark Ends05:25
Nautical06:04
Civil Dawn06:43
Sunrise07:18
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE30.6°
DISTANCE379,997 km
Moonrise16:10
Moonset04:59
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX47% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -28.7° | 278° | Libra | 07:44 | 12:17 | 16:43 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.2° | 355° | Leo | 00:52 | 08:14 | 15:33 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.2° | 123° | Pisces | 16:59 | 23:09 | 05:19 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -19.8° | 4° | Cancer | 23:57 | 07:37 | 15:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -17.8° | 259° | Libra | 09:33 | 13:41 | 17:49 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 9.3° | 68° | Taurus | 18:41 | 02:40 | 10:44 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.2° | 132° | Pisces | 16:39 | 22:39 | 04:40 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:10
BEST TIME22:26S · 40° high
SETS04:59
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:52
BEST TIME08:14S · 53° high
SETS15:33
Reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:59
BEST TIME23:09S · 40° high
SETS05:19
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:44
BEST TIME12:17S · 20° high
SETS16:43
Reaches about 20° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:57
BEST TIME07:37S · 56° high
SETS15:20
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.
