Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-16.6° (−12° to −18°)
20:35:05
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 8m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:10
Civil Dusk19:37
Nautical20:08
Full Dark20:39
Nadir01:44
Dark Ends06:49
Nautical07:20
Civil Dawn07:51
Sunrise08:18
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.7°
DISTANCE379,843 km
Moonrise17:35
Moonset06:16
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
64/100
Partial haze or lunar wash. Bright clusters, double stars, and prominent planets remain well visible.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -21.8° | 264° | Libra | 08:38 | 13:38 | 18:39 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -34.6° | 342° | Leo | 02:42 | 09:36 | 16:25 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 24.6° | 109° | Pisces | 18:24 | 00:30 | 06:37 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -32.6° | 353° | Cancer | 01:56 | 09:01 | 16:04 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -7.4° | 250° | Libra | 10:11 | 15:02 | 19:53 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -2.2° | 60° | Taurus | 20:48 | 04:02 | 11:20 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 28.6° | 117° | Pisces | 18:00 | 00:01 | 06:01 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:35
BEST TIME23:50S · 54° high
SETS06:16
Reaches about 54° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:42
BEST TIME09:36S · 66° high
SETS16:25
Reaches about 66° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES18:24
BEST TIME00:30S · 53° high
SETS06:37
Reaches about 53° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:38
BEST TIME13:38S · 33° high
SETS18:39
Reaches about 33° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:56
BEST TIME09:01S · 69° high
SETS16:04
Reaches about 69° 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.
