Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-13.2° (−12° to −18°)
19:23:46
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 25m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:09
Civil Dusk18:39
Nautical19:13
Full Dark19:47
Nadir00:52
Dark Ends05:56
Nautical06:30
Civil Dawn07:04
Sunrise07:34
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE26.9°
DISTANCE380,335 km
Moonrise16:40
Moonset05:22
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX42% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
67/100
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 | -18.8° | 264° | Libra | 08:00 | 12:46 | 17:33 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.7° | 338° | Leo | 01:38 | 08:43 | 15:45 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.2° | 108° | Pisces | 17:31 | 23:38 | 05:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -26.0° | 348° | Cancer | 00:49 | 08:08 | 15:26 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -6.3° | 247° | Libra | 09:37 | 14:10 | 18:44 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -2.1° | 56° | Taurus | 19:37 | 03:09 | 10:46 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.8° | 115° | Pisces | 17:08 | 23:09 | 05:09 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:40
BEST TIME22:54S · 47° high
SETS05:22
Reaches about 47° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:38
BEST TIME08:43S · 60° high
SETS15:45
Reaches about 60° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:31
BEST TIME23:38S · 47° high
SETS05:46
Reaches about 47° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:00
BEST TIME12:46S · 27° high
SETS17:33
Reaches about 27° 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 TIME08:08S · 63° high
SETS15:26
Reaches about 63° 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.
