Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-21.5° (< −18°)
20:14:54
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 0m of true darkness · 14h 10m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:41
Civil Dusk18:19
Nautical19:02
Full Dark19:45
Nadir00:46
Dark Ends05:46
Nautical06:29
Civil Dawn07:12
Sunrise07:51
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE27.4°
DISTANCE379,919 km
Moonrise16:32
Moonset05:27
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX43% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
77/100
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 | -27.8° | 280° | Libra | 08:32 | 12:40 | 16:48 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -18.9° | 355° | Leo | 01:01 | 08:37 | 16:10 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 22.6° | 125° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:32 | 05:43 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.5° | 3° | Cancer | 00:02 | 08:00 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -18.3° | 260° | Libra | 10:17 | 14:04 | 17:50 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 10.7° | 68° | Taurus | 18:40 | 03:03 | 11:30 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 24.2° | 133° | Pisces | 17:01 | 23:02 | 05:03 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:32
BEST TIME22:49S · 36° high
SETS05:27
Reaches about 36° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:01
BEST TIME08:37S · 48° high
SETS16:10
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
SETS05:43
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
RISES08:32
BEST TIME12:40S · 16° high
SETS16:48
Only reaches about 16° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:02
BEST TIME08:00S · 52° high
SETS16:01
Reaches about 52° 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.
