Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Astronomical Twilight-14.2° (−12° to −18°)
19:26:42
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 10m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:13
Civil Dusk18:41
Nautical19:12
Full Dark19:43
Nadir00:48
Dark Ends05:53
Nautical06:24
Civil Dawn06:56
Sunrise07:23
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE30.3°
DISTANCE380,324 km
Moonrise16:37
Moonset05:15
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX47% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
65/100
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 | -19.4° | 263° | Libra | 07:45 | 12:43 | 17:42 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -32.8° | 339° | Leo | 01:45 | 08:40 | 15:32 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 21.9° | 107° | Pisces | 17:28 | 23:35 | 05:41 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -31.1° | 349° | Cancer | 00:58 | 08:05 | 15:10 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -5.5° | 248° | Libra | 09:19 | 14:07 | 18:55 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Below Horizon | 5.6 | -3.7° | 58° | Taurus | 19:49 | 03:06 | 10:27 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 25.9° | 115° | Pisces | 17:04 | 23:05 | 05:06 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:37
BEST TIME22:50S · 52° high
SETS05:15
Reaches about 52° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:45
BEST TIME08:40S · 65° high
SETS15:32
Reaches about 65° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:28
BEST TIME23:35S · 52° high
SETS05:41
Reaches about 52° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:45
BEST TIME12:43S · 32° high
SETS17:42
Reaches about 32° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:58
BEST TIME08:05S · 68° high
SETS15:10
Reaches about 68° 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.
