Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Daylight+1.4°
19:16:37
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 3m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:26
Civil Dusk19:52
Nautical20:23
Full Dark20:53
Nadir01:57
Dark Ends07:02
Nautical07:32
Civil Dawn08:02
Sunrise08:29
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE16.4°
DISTANCE380,137 km
Moonrise17:48
Moonset06:29
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX26% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
33/100
High cloud cover or severe light interference. Recommend bright planetary observation or indoor planning.
CLOUD COVER15%
HUMIDITY50%
VISIBILITY18 km
DEW POINT10.8°C
| PLANET | STATUS | MAGNITUDE | ALTITUDE | AZIMUTH | CONSTELLATION | RISE | TRANSIT | SET | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venus♀ | Below Horizon | -4.3 | -3.6° | 251° | Libra | 08:46 | 13:51 | 18:57 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -27.2° | 318° | Leo | 02:59 | 09:49 | 16:35 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Rising / Setting | 0.3 | 7.3° | 94° | Pisces | 18:38 | 00:44 | 06:50 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -28.3° | 328° | Cancer | 02:14 | 09:14 | 16:12 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Rising / Setting | 0.4 | 9.1° | 235° | Libra | 10:20 | 15:15 | 20:11 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -17.8° | 44° | Taurus | 21:06 | 04:15 | 11:27 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 12.1° | 100° | Pisces | 18:13 | 00:14 | 06:15 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:48
BEST TIME00:03S · 56° high
SETS06:29
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:59
BEST TIME09:49S · 68° high
SETS16:35
Reaches about 68° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES18:38
BEST TIME00:44S · 55° high
SETS06:50
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:46
BEST TIME13:51S · 35° high
SETS18:57
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:14
BEST TIME09:14S · 71° high
SETS16:12
Reaches about 71° 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.
