Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-22.4° (< −18°)
20:15:32
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 6m of true darkness · 13h 46m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:54
Civil Dusk18:28
Nautical19:06
Full Dark19:44
Nadir00:47
Dark Ends05:50
Nautical06:28
Civil Dawn07:06
Sunrise07:40
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE31.1°
DISTANCE380,141 km
Moonrise16:34
Moonset05:20
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX48% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
75/100
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 | -28.4° | 277° | Libra | 08:05 | 12:41 | 17:10 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -24.2° | 354° | Leo | 01:19 | 08:38 | 15:55 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 25.4° | 122° | Pisces | 17:24 | 23:33 | 05:43 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -20.8° | 3° | Cancer | 00:25 | 08:02 | 15:40 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -17.2° | 258° | Libra | 09:53 | 14:05 | 18:17 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Rising / Setting | 5.6 | 8.6° | 67° | Taurus | 19:10 | 03:05 | 11:04 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Visible Low | 7.8 | 27.6° | 131° | Pisces | 17:03 | 23:04 | 05:04 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:34
BEST TIME22:49S · 41° high
SETS05:20
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:19
BEST TIME08:38S · 54° high
SETS15:55
Reaches about 54° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:24
BEST TIME23:33S · 41° high
SETS05:43
Reaches about 41° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:05
BEST TIME12:41S · 21° high
SETS17:10
Reaches about 21° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:25
BEST TIME08:02S · 57° high
SETS15:40
Reaches about 57° 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.
