Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-12.9° (−12° to −18°)
19:13:31
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 59m of true darkness · 14h 14m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:39
Civil Dusk18:18
Nautical19:02
Full Dark19:46
Nadir00:46
Dark Ends05:45
Nautical06:29
Civil Dawn07:14
Sunrise07:53
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE20.2°
DISTANCE380,148 km
Moonrise16:32
Moonset05:28
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX32% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
71/100
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 | -19.2° | 267° | Libra | 08:37 | 12:40 | 16:44 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -16.2° | 339° | Leo | 00:58 | 08:37 | 16:13 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 14.7° | 111° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:32 | 05:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -14.0° | 348° | Cancer | 23:58 | 08:02 | 16:05 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.3° | 248° | Libra | 10:23 | 14:04 | 17:45 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 3.7° | 56° | Taurus | 18:35 | 03:03 | 11:35 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 16.8° | 118° | Pisces | 17:02 | 23:02 | 05:03 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:32
BEST TIME22:49S · 35° high
SETS05:28
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:58
BEST TIME08:37S · 48° high
SETS16:13
Reaches about 48° 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 · 35° high
SETS05:44
Reaches about 35° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:37
BEST TIME12:40S · 15° high
SETS16:44
Only reaches about 15° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:58
BEST TIME08:02S · 51° high
SETS16:05
Reaches about 51° 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.
