Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-28.0° (< −18°)
21:04:52
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 1m of true darkness · 14h 7m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:45
Civil Dusk18:23
Nautical19:06
Full Dark19:48
Nadir00:49
Dark Ends05:49
Nautical06:31
Civil Dawn07:14
Sunrise07:52
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE32.0°
DISTANCE379,732 km
Moonrise16:35
Moonset05:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX49% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -34.4° | 290° | Libra | 08:24 | 12:43 | 16:54 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -19.4° | 7° | Leo | 01:06 | 08:37 | 16:11 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 28.0° | 136° | Pisces | 17:24 | 23:35 | 05:46 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -15.0° | 15° | Cancer | 00:07 | 08:03 | 16:01 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -24.9° | 270° | Libra | 10:17 | 14:07 | 17:56 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 16.8° | 77° | Taurus | 18:47 | 03:06 | 11:29 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.0° | 145° | Pisces | 17:04 | 23:05 | 05:06 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:35
BEST TIME22:52S · 37° high
SETS05:30
Reaches about 37° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:06
BEST TIME08:37S · 49° high
SETS16:11
Reaches about 49° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:24
BEST TIME23:35S · 36° high
SETS05:46
Reaches about 36° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:24
BEST TIME12:43S · 17° high
SETS16:54
Only reaches about 17° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:07
BEST TIME08:03S · 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.
