Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-41.3° (< −18°)
23:49:13
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 55m of true darkness · 14h 25m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:33
Civil Dusk18:15
Nautical19:02
Full Dark19:48
Nadir00:46
Dark Ends05:43
Nautical06:29
Civil Dawn07:16
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%
ALTITUDE31.3°
DISTANCE379,791 km
Moonrise16:31
Moonset05:19
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 | -47.9° | 342° | Libra | 08:38 | 12:40 | 16:34 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -6.3° | 47° | Leo | 00:50 | 08:34 | 16:21 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 32.6° | 185° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:32 | 05:45 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Rising / Setting | 1.0 | 0.2° | 53° | Cancer | 23:47 | 08:00 | 16:16 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -44.9° | 313° | Libra | 10:31 | 14:04 | 17:33 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Optimal Visibility | 5.6 | 38.7° | 116° | Taurus | 18:22 | 03:03 | 11:49 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 30.1° | 193° | Pisces | 17:02 | 23:03 | 05:03 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:31
BEST TIME22:43S · 32° high
SETS05:19
Reaches about 32° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:50
BEST TIME08:34S · 46° high
SETS16:21
Reaches about 46° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:20
BEST TIME23:32S · 33° high
SETS05:45
Reaches about 33° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:38
BEST TIME12:40S · 13° high
SETS16:34
Only reaches about 13° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:47
BEST TIME08:00S · 49° high
SETS16:16
Reaches about 49° 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.
