Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-31.3° (< −18°)
21:30:33
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 33m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:25
Civil Dusk18:57
Nautical19:32
Full Dark20:08
Nadir01:12
Dark Ends06:16
Nautical06:51
Civil Dawn07:27
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%
ALTITUDE39.1°
DISTANCE379,860 km
Moonrise17:00
Moonset05:44
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX59% · 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 | -37.3° | 285° | Libra | 08:19 | 13:06 | 17:46 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.6° | 8° | Leo | 01:53 | 09:00 | 16:10 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 34.0° | 133° | Pisces | 17:50 | 23:58 | 06:07 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.9° | 16° | Cancer | 01:02 | 08:26 | 15:53 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -25.0° | 266° | Libra | 10:04 | 14:30 | 18:55 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 15.2° | 75° | Taurus | 19:49 | 03:29 | 11:14 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 35.8° | 142° | Pisces | 17:28 | 23:28 | 05:29 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:00
BEST TIME23:14S · 45° high
SETS05:44
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:53
BEST TIME09:00S · 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
RISES17:50
BEST TIME23:58S · 44° high
SETS06:07
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 · 25° high
SETS17:46
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
RISES01:02
BEST TIME08:26S · 61° high
SETS15:53
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.
