Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-12.5° (−12° to −18°)
19:39:12
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 26m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:29
Civil Dusk18:59
Nautical19:33
Full Dark20:07
Nadir01:11
Dark Ends06:16
Nautical06:50
Civil Dawn07:24
Sunrise07:54
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE26.1°
DISTANCE380,277 km
Moonrise17:00
Moonset05:42
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · 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 | -18.1° | 263° | Libra | 08:20 | 13:06 | 17:52 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.2° | 337° | Leo | 01:57 | 09:03 | 16:05 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 18.5° | 107° | Pisces | 17:50 | 23:58 | 06:06 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -25.6° | 347° | Cancer | 01:08 | 08:28 | 15:47 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -5.7° | 247° | Libra | 09:57 | 14:30 | 19:02 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -2.5° | 56° | Taurus | 19:56 | 03:29 | 11:06 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.0° | 115° | Pisces | 17:28 | 23:28 | 05:29 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:00
BEST TIME23:14S · 47° high
SETS05:42
Reaches about 47° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:57
BEST TIME09:03S · 59° high
SETS16:05
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:50
BEST TIME23:58S · 46° high
SETS06:06
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:20
BEST TIME13:06S · 27° high
SETS17:52
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
RISES01:08
BEST TIME08:28S · 63° high
SETS15:47
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.
