Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Nautical Twilight-7.6° (−6° to −12°)
18:55:36
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 31m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:12
Civil Dusk18:42
Nautical19:18
Full Dark19:53
Nadir00:57
Dark Ends06:01
Nautical06:36
Civil Dawn07:11
Sunrise07:42
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE20.9°
DISTANCE380,440 km
Moonrise16:45
Moonset05:28
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX33% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
60/100
Partial haze or lunar wash. Bright clusters, double stars, and prominent planets remain well visible.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -13.3° | 258° | Libra | 08:10 | 12:51 | 17:33 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.6° | 330° | Leo | 01:40 | 08:48 | 15:54 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 13.2° | 102° | Pisces | 17:35 | 23:43 | 05:52 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.7° | 340° | Cancer | 00:49 | 08:13 | 15:37 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -1.8° | 242° | Libra | 09:47 | 14:15 | 18:43 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -5.7° | 50° | Taurus | 19:36 | 03:15 | 10:57 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 16.8° | 109° | Pisces | 17:13 | 23:14 | 05:14 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:45
BEST TIME22:59S · 45° high
SETS05:28
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:40
BEST TIME08:48S · 58° high
SETS15:54
Reaches about 58° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:35
BEST TIME23:43S · 45° high
SETS05:52
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 TIME12:51S · 25° high
SETS17:33
Reaches about 25° 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 TIME08:13S · 61° high
SETS15:37
Reaches about 61° 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.
