Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Daylight+1.1°
19:09:20
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 12h 45m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset19:16
Civil Dusk19:40
Nautical20:08
Full Dark20:36
Nadir01:39
Dark Ends06:42
Nautical07:09
Civil Dawn07:37
Sunrise08:01
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE19.9°
DISTANCE379,939 km
Moonrise17:32
Moonset06:08
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX32% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
31/100
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 | -3.3° | 252° | Libra | 08:13 | 13:33 | 18:53 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -34.6° | 317° | Leo | 02:52 | 09:30 | 16:05 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 10.2° | 94° | Pisces | 18:20 | 00:25 | 06:30 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -36.2° | 328° | Cancer | 02:10 | 08:55 | 15:39 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Visible Low | 0.4 | 11.3° | 238° | Libra | 09:44 | 14:57 | 20:10 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -21.5° | 48° | Taurus | 21:05 | 03:56 | 10:51 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 15.7° | 99° | Pisces | 17:55 | 23:55 | 05:56 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:32
BEST TIME23:46S · 64° high
SETS06:08
Reaches about 64° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:52
BEST TIME09:30S · 75° high
SETS16:05
Reaches about 75° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES18:20
BEST TIME00:25S · 62° high
SETS06:30
Reaches about 62° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:13
BEST TIME13:33S · 43° high
SETS18:53
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES02:10
BEST TIME08:55S · 79° high
SETS15:39
Reaches about 79° 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.
