Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-34.7° (< −18°)
21:16:32
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 4m of true darkness · 13h 53m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:23
Civil Dusk17:59
Nautical18:38
Full Dark19:18
Nadir00:20
Dark Ends05:22
Nautical06:02
Civil Dawn06:41
Sunrise07:17
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE37.3°
DISTANCE379,689 km
Moonrise16:07
Moonset04:57
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX56% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
72/100
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 | -41.0° | 298° | Libra | 07:44 | 12:14 | 16:37 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -21.1° | 17° | Leo | 00:47 | 08:08 | 15:33 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 34.0° | 146° | Pisces | 16:56 | 23:06 | 05:16 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.8° | 25° | Cancer | 23:52 | 07:35 | 15:20 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -31.0° | 276° | Libra | 09:34 | 13:38 | 17:42 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 22.2° | 84° | Taurus | 18:34 | 02:38 | 10:45 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.5° | 155° | Pisces | 16:36 | 22:37 | 04:37 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:07
BEST TIME22:23S · 39° high
SETS04:57
Reaches about 39° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:47
BEST TIME08:08S · 52° high
SETS15:33
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
RISES16:56
BEST TIME23:06S · 39° high
SETS05:16
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
RISES07:44
BEST TIME12:14S · 19° high
SETS16:37
Only reaches about 19° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:52
BEST TIME07:35S · 55° high
SETS15:20
Reaches about 55° 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.
