Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-25.6° (< −18°)
20:55:49
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 34m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:24
Civil Dusk18:56
Nautical19:32
Full Dark20:07
Nadir01:11
Dark Ends06:15
Nautical06:51
Civil Dawn07:26
Sunrise07:58
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE35.3°
DISTANCE379,990 km
Moonrise16:59
Moonset05:44
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX53% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
73/100
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 | -31.5° | 278° | Libra | 08:19 | 13:06 | 17:45 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.7° | 358° | Leo | 01:52 | 09:03 | 16:10 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 29.4° | 125° | Pisces | 17:49 | 23:58 | 06:06 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.8° | 7° | Cancer | 01:00 | 08:26 | 15:54 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -19.2° | 260° | Libra | 10:05 | 14:29 | 18:54 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 9.8° | 69° | Taurus | 19:47 | 03:29 | 11:14 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.7° | 133° | Pisces | 17:27 | 23:28 | 05:29 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:59
BEST TIME23:14S · 44° high
SETS05:44
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:52
BEST TIME09:03S · 57° high
SETS16:10
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
RISES17:49
BEST TIME23:58S · 44° high
SETS06:06
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
RISES08:19
BEST TIME13:06S · 24° high
SETS17:45
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
RISES01:00
BEST TIME08:26S · 60° high
SETS15:54
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.
