Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-20.5° (< −18°)
20:12:10
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 8m of true darkness · 13h 35m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:10
Civil Dusk18:42
Nautical19:18
Full Dark19:54
Nadir00:58
Dark Ends06:02
Nautical06:37
Civil Dawn07:14
Sunrise07:45
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE31.3°
DISTANCE380,153 km
Moonrise16:46
Moonset05:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX48% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -26.3° | 272° | Libra | 08:15 | 12:52 | 17:31 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.8° | 350° | Leo | 01:38 | 08:49 | 15:58 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 24.8° | 118° | Pisces | 17:36 | 23:44 | 05:53 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -23.8° | 360° | Cancer | 00:46 | 08:14 | 15:41 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -14.2° | 255° | Libra | 09:53 | 14:16 | 18:39 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 5.3° | 64° | Taurus | 19:33 | 03:16 | 11:02 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.6° | 126° | Pisces | 17:14 | 23:15 | 05:15 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:46
BEST TIME23:00S · 44° high
SETS05:30
Reaches about 44° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:38
BEST TIME08:49S · 57° high
SETS15:58
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
RISES17:36
BEST TIME23:44S · 44° high
SETS05:53
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
RISES08:15
BEST TIME12:52S · 24° high
SETS17:31
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
RISES00:46
BEST TIME08:14S · 60° high
SETS15:41
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.
