Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-17.5° (−12° to −18°)
19:13:33
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 2m of true darkness · 14h 1m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:14
Civil Dusk17:51
Nautical18:32
Full Dark19:13
Nadir00:14
Dark Ends05:15
Nautical05:57
Civil Dawn06:38
Sunrise07:15
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE25.3°
DISTANCE380,373 km
Moonrise16:01
Moonset04:49
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX39% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
68/100
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 | -23.6° | 272° | Libra | 07:54 | 12:09 | 16:25 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -20.0° | 347° | Leo | 00:36 | 08:06 | 15:33 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 19.7° | 117° | Pisces | 16:50 | 23:01 | 05:12 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -17.2° | 356° | Cancer | 23:39 | 07:31 | 15:22 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -13.7° | 254° | Libra | 09:37 | 13:33 | 17:28 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 6.1° | 62° | Taurus | 18:20 | 02:32 | 10:49 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 21.9° | 125° | Pisces | 16:31 | 22:31 | 04:32 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:01
BEST TIME22:15S · 37° high
SETS04:49
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:36
BEST TIME08:06S · 50° high
SETS15:33
Reaches about 50° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:50
BEST TIME23:01S · 37° high
SETS05:12
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES07:54
BEST TIME12:09S · 18° high
SETS16:25
Only reaches about 18° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:39
BEST TIME07:31S · 54° high
SETS15:22
Reaches about 54° 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.
