Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-18.5° (< −18°)
19:32:49
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 9m of true darkness · 13h 15m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:54
Civil Dusk18:22
Nautical18:55
Full Dark19:27
Nadir00:32
Dark Ends05:36
Nautical06:08
Civil Dawn06:41
Sunrise07:09
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE33.1°
DISTANCE380,301 km
Moonrise16:20
Moonset04:59
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX50% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
74/100
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 | -23.9° | 267° | Libra | 07:25 | 12:26 | 17:21 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -32.4° | 346° | Leo | 01:25 | 08:23 | 15:18 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.3° | 113° | Pisces | 17:11 | 23:18 | 05:25 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -30.0° | 356° | Cancer | 00:37 | 07:48 | 14:58 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -10.1° | 251° | Libra | 09:07 | 13:50 | 18:33 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 0.6° | 62° | Taurus | 19:28 | 02:50 | 10:15 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 29.0° | 120° | Pisces | 16:48 | 22:49 | 04:49 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES16:20
BEST TIME22:33S · 50° high
SETS04:59
Reaches about 50° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:25
BEST TIME08:23S · 63° high
SETS15:18
Reaches about 63° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES17:11
BEST TIME23:18S · 50° high
SETS05:25
Reaches about 50° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:25
BEST TIME12:26S · 30° high
SETS17:21
Reaches about 30° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:37
BEST TIME07:48S · 66° high
SETS14:58
Reaches about 66° 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.
