Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-28.3° (< −18°)
20:19:34
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 5m of true darkness · 13h 51m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:14
Civil Dusk17:49
Nautical18:28
Full Dark19:07
Nadir00:10
Dark Ends05:12
Nautical05:51
Civil Dawn06:31
Sunrise07:06
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE34.2°
DISTANCE379,901 km
Moonrise15:57
Moonset04:46
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX52% · 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 | -34.5° | 286° | Libra | 07:32 | 12:04 | 16:28 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -22.9° | 5° | Leo | 00:38 | 07:58 | 15:21 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 29.6° | 133° | Pisces | 16:46 | 22:56 | 05:06 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.6° | 14° | Cancer | 23:43 | 07:25 | 15:08 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -23.8° | 267° | Libra | 09:22 | 13:28 | 17:34 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 15.1° | 75° | Taurus | 18:26 | 02:27 | 10:33 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.1° | 142° | Pisces | 16:26 | 22:27 | 04:27 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES15:57
BEST TIME22:12S · 40° high
SETS04:46
Reaches about 40° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:38
BEST TIME07:58S · 52° high
SETS15:21
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
RISES16:46
BEST TIME22:56S · 39° high
SETS05:06
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
RISES07:32
BEST TIME12:04S · 20° high
SETS16:28
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
RISES23:43
BEST TIME07:25S · 56° high
SETS15:08
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.
