Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-25.8° (< −18°)
20:07:36
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 53m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:18
Civil Dusk17:53
Nautical18:33
Full Dark19:12
Nadir00:15
Dark Ends05:17
Nautical05:56
Civil Dawn06:36
Sunrise07:11
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.4°
DISTANCE379,946 km
Moonrise16:02
Moonset04:51
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -31.9° | 283° | Libra | 07:38 | 12:09 | 16:32 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -22.7° | 1° | Leo | 00:42 | 08:03 | 15:27 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 27.5° | 129° | Pisces | 16:51 | 23:01 | 05:11 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.8° | 9° | Cancer | 23:47 | 07:29 | 15:14 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -21.2° | 264° | Libra | 09:28 | 13:33 | 17:38 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 12.7° | 72° | Taurus | 18:30 | 02:32 | 10:39 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.2° | 137° | Pisces | 16:31 | 22:31 | 04:32 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:02
BEST TIME22:17S · 39° high
SETS04:51
Reaches about 39° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:42
BEST TIME08:03S · 52° high
SETS15:27
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
RISES16:51
BEST TIME23:01S · 39° high
SETS05:11
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
RISES07:38
BEST TIME12:09S · 20° high
SETS16:32
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
RISES23:47
BEST TIME07:29S · 56° high
SETS15:14
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.
