Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-32.9° (< −18°)
21:31:41
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 30m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:20
Civil Dusk18:51
Nautical19:26
Full Dark20:01
Nadir01:05
Dark Ends06:09
Nautical06:44
Civil Dawn07:19
Sunrise07:50
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE40.6°
DISTANCE379,856 km
Moonrise16:53
Moonset05:36
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX60% · 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 | -38.8° | 286° | Libra | 08:10 | 12:59 | 17:42 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -28.3° | 10° | Leo | 01:48 | 08:53 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 35.6° | 135° | Pisces | 17:43 | 23:51 | 06:00 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.4° | 18° | Cancer | 00:58 | 08:20 | 15:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -26.3° | 267° | Libra | 09:55 | 14:23 | 18:52 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 16.3° | 76° | Taurus | 19:45 | 03:23 | 11:04 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 37.3° | 144° | Pisces | 17:21 | 23:22 | 05:22 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:53
BEST TIME23:07S · 46° high
SETS05:36
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:48
BEST TIME08:53S · 58° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:43
BEST TIME23:51S · 45° high
SETS06:00
Reaches about 45° 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 TIME12:59S · 26° high
SETS17:42
Reaches about 26° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:58
BEST TIME08:20S · 62° high
SETS15:44
Reaches about 62° 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.
