Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-32.5° (< −18°)
20:49:36
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 48m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:19
Civil Dusk17:53
Nautical18:32
Full Dark19:10
Nadir00:13
Dark Ends05:16
Nautical05:54
Civil Dawn06:33
Sunrise07:07
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE37.0°
DISTANCE379,789 km
Moonrise16:01
Moonset04:49
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 | -38.7° | 292° | Libra | 07:33 | 12:08 | 16:35 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.0° | 12° | Leo | 00:44 | 08:01 | 15:23 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 33.0° | 140° | Pisces | 16:50 | 23:00 | 05:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.1° | 20° | Cancer | 23:49 | 07:28 | 15:09 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -27.9° | 271° | Libra | 09:22 | 13:31 | 17:41 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 18.9° | 80° | Taurus | 18:33 | 02:31 | 10:33 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 34.0° | 149° | Pisces | 16:29 | 22:30 | 04:31 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:01
BEST TIME22:16S · 41° high
SETS04:49
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:44
BEST TIME08:01S · 53° high
SETS15:23
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
RISES16:50
BEST TIME23:00S · 40° high
SETS05:09
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
RISES07:33
BEST TIME12:08S · 21° high
SETS16:35
Reaches about 21° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:49
BEST TIME07:28S · 57° high
SETS15:09
Reaches about 57° 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.
