Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-15.7° (−12° to −18°)
19:40:41
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
Sunset18:09
Civil Dusk18:40
Nautical19:15
Full Dark19:51
Nadir00:55
Dark Ends05:59
Nautical06:34
Civil Dawn07:09
Sunrise07:40
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE28.0°
DISTANCE380,271 km
Moonrise16:43
Moonset05:26
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · 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 | -21.4° | 267° | Libra | 08:09 | 12:49 | 17:31 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.6° | 342° | Leo | 01:37 | 08:46 | 15:52 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 20.9° | 111° | Pisces | 17:33 | 23:41 | 05:50 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -24.5° | 352° | Cancer | 00:46 | 08:11 | 15:35 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -9.3° | 250° | Libra | 09:46 | 14:13 | 18:40 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 0.8° | 59° | Taurus | 19:34 | 03:12 | 10:56 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.1° | 119° | Pisces | 17:11 | 23:12 | 05:12 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:43
BEST TIME22:57S · 45° high
SETS05:26
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:37
BEST TIME08:46S · 58° high
SETS15:52
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
RISES17:33
BEST TIME23:41S · 45° high
SETS05:50
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
RISES08:09
BEST TIME12:49S · 25° high
SETS17:31
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
RISES00:46
BEST TIME08:11S · 61° high
SETS15:35
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.
