Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-32.0° (< −18°)
21:24:36
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 35m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:14
Civil Dusk18:45
Nautical19:21
Full Dark19:57
Nadir01:01
Dark Ends06:05
Nautical06:40
Civil Dawn07:16
Sunrise07:48
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE39.1°
DISTANCE379,882 km
Moonrise16:49
Moonset05:33
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX59% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
71/100
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 | -37.9° | 287° | Libra | 08:10 | 12:55 | 17:34 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.9° | 9° | Leo | 01:41 | 08:49 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 34.3° | 135° | Pisces | 17:39 | 23:47 | 05:56 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.1° | 17° | Cancer | 00:49 | 08:16 | 15:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -25.8° | 267° | Libra | 09:55 | 14:19 | 18:43 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 16.2° | 76° | Taurus | 19:36 | 03:19 | 11:05 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 35.9° | 144° | Pisces | 17:17 | 23:18 | 05:18 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:49
BEST TIME23:03S · 44° high
SETS05:33
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:41
BEST TIME08:49S · 57° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 57° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:39
BEST TIME23:47S · 44° high
SETS05:56
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:10
BEST TIME12:55S · 24° high
SETS17:34
Reaches about 24° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:49
BEST TIME08:16S · 60° high
SETS15:44
Reaches about 60° 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.
