Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-21.9° (< −18°)
20:33:39
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
Sunset17:47
Civil Dusk18:28
Nautical19:14
Full Dark19:59
Nadir00:58
Dark Ends05:56
Nautical06:42
Civil Dawn07:28
Sunrise08:09
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE26.4°
DISTANCE379,849 km
Moonrise16:44
Moonset05:42
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX41% · 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 | -28.3° | 282° | Libra | 08:55 | 12:52 | 16:50 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -16.8° | 356° | Leo | 01:04 | 08:49 | 16:31 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 22.0° | 127° | Pisces | 17:32 | 23:44 | 05:56 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -13.3° | 5° | Cancer | 00:03 | 08:12 | 16:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -19.5° | 262° | Libra | 10:43 | 14:16 | 17:49 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 12.3° | 70° | Taurus | 18:38 | 03:15 | 11:56 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 23.3° | 135° | Pisces | 17:14 | 23:14 | 05:15 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:44
BEST TIME23:02S · 34° high
SETS05:42
Reaches about 34° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:04
BEST TIME08:49S · 46° high
SETS16:31
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
RISES17:32
BEST TIME23:44S · 33° high
SETS05:56
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
RISES08:55
BEST TIME12:52S · 14° high
SETS16:50
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
RISES00:03
BEST TIME08:12S · 50° high
SETS16:25
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.
