Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-28.3° (< −18°)
21:04:07
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM9h 55m of true darkness · 14h 28m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:19
Civil Dusk18:01
Nautical18:48
Full Dark19:35
Nadir00:33
Dark Ends05:30
Nautical06:17
Civil Dawn07:04
Sunrise07:47
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE29.7°
DISTANCE379,735 km
Moonrise16:19
Moonset05:17
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX46% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
76/100
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 | -34.8° | 296° | Libra | 08:27 | 12:27 | 16:19 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -15.4° | 10° | Leo | 00:35 | 08:21 | 16:10 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 26.5° | 141° | Pisces | 17:06 | 23:19 | 05:32 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -10.8° | 18° | Cancer | 23:31 | 07:47 | 16:05 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -26.8° | 275° | Libra | 10:25 | 13:51 | 17:17 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 19.5° | 81° | Taurus | 18:05 | 02:50 | 11:39 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 26.9° | 150° | Pisces | 16:49 | 22:49 | 04:50 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:19
BEST TIME22:36S · 33° high
SETS05:17
Reaches about 33° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:35
BEST TIME08:21S · 45° high
SETS16:10
Reaches about 45° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:06
BEST TIME23:19S · 32° high
SETS05:32
Reaches about 32° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Low in the sky
RISES08:27
BEST TIME12:27S · 13° high
SETS16:19
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
RISES23:31
BEST TIME07:47S · 49° high
SETS16:05
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.
