Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-21.7° (< −18°)
20:35:14
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 55m of true darkness · 14h 26m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:47
Civil Dusk18:28
Nautical19:15
Full Dark20:02
Nadir01:00
Dark Ends05:57
Nautical06:44
Civil Dawn07:31
Sunrise08:13
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE25.8°
DISTANCE379,843 km
Moonrise16:46
Moonset05:45
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX40% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
78/100
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 | -28.1° | 283° | Libra | 09:01 | 12:54 | 16:47 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -16.1° | 356° | Leo | 01:03 | 08:51 | 16:36 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.6° | 127° | Pisces | 17:33 | 23:46 | 05:59 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -12.5° | 5° | Cancer | 00:00 | 08:14 | 16:31 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -19.6° | 263° | Libra | 10:50 | 14:18 | 17:45 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 12.5° | 70° | Taurus | 18:34 | 03:17 | 12:04 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 22.8° | 135° | Pisces | 17:15 | 23:16 | 05:17 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:46
BEST TIME23:04S · 33° high
SETS05:45
Reaches about 33° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:03
BEST TIME08:51S · 46° high
SETS16:36
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
RISES17:33
BEST TIME23:46S · 33° high
SETS05:59
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
RISES09:01
BEST TIME12:54S · 13° high
SETS16:47
Only reaches about 13° above the horizon. An open view is important.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:00
BEST TIME08:14S · 49° high
SETS16:31
Reaches about 49° 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.
