Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-15.1° (−12° to −18°)
19:29:41
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 57m of true darkness · 14h 22m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:35
Civil Dusk18:16
Nautical19:02
Full Dark19:47
Nadir00:46
Dark Ends05:44
Nautical06:30
Civil Dawn07:16
Sunrise07:57
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE21.2°
DISTANCE380,088 km
Moonrise16:32
Moonset05:30
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX34% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
70/100
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 | -21.4° | 271° | Libra | 08:44 | 12:40 | 16:37 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -15.6° | 343° | Leo | 00:52 | 08:37 | 16:19 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 16.1° | 115° | Pisces | 17:20 | 23:32 | 05:44 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -13.0° | 352° | Cancer | 23:50 | 08:02 | 16:13 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -12.8° | 252° | Libra | 10:31 | 14:04 | 17:36 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 6.2° | 59° | Taurus | 18:26 | 03:03 | 11:45 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 18.0° | 122° | Pisces | 17:02 | 23:02 | 05:03 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:32
BEST TIME22:49S · 34° high
SETS05:30
Reaches about 34° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:52
BEST TIME08:37S · 46° high
SETS16:19
Reaches about 46° 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 · 33° high
SETS05:44
Reaches about 33° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:44
BEST TIME12:40S · 14° high
SETS16:37
Only reaches about 14° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:50
BEST TIME08:02S · 50° high
SETS16:13
Reaches about 50° 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.
