Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-36.5° (< −18°)
22:02:06
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 41m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset18:12
Civil Dusk18:45
Nautical19:22
Full Dark19:59
Nadir01:03
Dark Ends06:06
Nautical06:43
Civil Dawn07:21
Sunrise07:54
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION93%
ALTITUDE40.1°
DISTANCE379,742 km
Moonrise16:51
Moonset05:36
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX60% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
71/100
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 | -42.7° | 297° | Libra | 08:17 | 12:57 | 17:30 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -23.7° | 18° | Leo | 01:38 | 08:51 | 16:08 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Optimal Visibility | 0.3 | 36.6° | 146° | Pisces | 17:40 | 23:49 | 05:58 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -18.2° | 26° | Cancer | 00:45 | 08:18 | 15:52 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -31.7° | 275° | Libra | 10:05 | 14:21 | 18:38 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 22.3° | 83° | Taurus | 19:31 | 03:21 | 11:15 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 37.3° | 155° | Pisces | 17:19 | 23:20 | 05:20 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:51
BEST TIME23:05S · 42° high
SETS05:36
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (93% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES01:38
BEST TIME08:51S · 55° high
SETS16:08
Reaches about 55° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES17:40
BEST TIME23:49S · 42° high
SETS05:58
Reaches about 42° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES08:17
BEST TIME12:57S · 22° high
SETS17:30
Reaches about 22° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:45
BEST TIME08:18S · 58° high
SETS15:52
Reaches about 58° 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.
