Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-16.4° (−12° to −18°)
19:58:29
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 28m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:25
Civil Dusk18:55
Nautical19:30
Full Dark20:04
Nadir01:09
Dark Ends06:13
Nautical06:47
Civil Dawn07:22
Sunrise07:53
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE29.0°
DISTANCE380,205 km
Moonrise16:57
Moonset05:40
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX45% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
66/100
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 | -22.1° | 267° | Libra | 08:20 | 13:03 | 17:47 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.8° | 343° | Leo | 01:53 | 09:00 | 16:04 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.8° | 112° | Pisces | 17:47 | 23:55 | 06:03 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -25.6° | 353° | Cancer | 01:03 | 08:25 | 15:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -9.6° | 250° | Libra | 09:57 | 14:27 | 18:57 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 0.9° | 60° | Taurus | 19:51 | 03:27 | 11:06 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 25.1° | 119° | Pisces | 17:25 | 23:26 | 05:26 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:57
BEST TIME23:11S · 46° high
SETS05:40
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:53
BEST TIME09:00S · 59° high
SETS16:04
Reaches about 59° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:47
BEST TIME23:55S · 46° high
SETS06:03
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:20
BEST TIME13:03S · 26° high
SETS17:47
Reaches about 26° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:03
BEST TIME08:25S · 62° high
SETS15:46
Reaches about 62° 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.
