Milky Way contrast is softened. Bright open clusters and double stars are optimal.
OBSERVATORY ALMANAC · NOCTURNAL DISPATCH
Tonight under the Sky
Deep Astronomical Night-26.5° (< −18°)
20:04:16
Fri, Oct 23, 2026
PHOTOMETRIC TWILIGHT SPECTRUM10h 7m of true darkness · 13h 37m total night
DaylightCivil (−6°)Nautical (−12°)Astro (−18°)Dark Sky (<−18°)
TRUE DARK SKY WINDOW
Sunset17:24
Civil Dusk17:56
Nautical18:33
Full Dark19:09
Nadir00:13
Dark Ends05:16
Nautical05:53
Civil Dawn06:29
Sunrise07:01
LIVE REAL-TIME OBSERVATION
LOCAL SKY PLANISPHERE · STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION
All-Sky Nocturnal Dome
Click any body to inspect telemetry
LUNAR EPHEMERISWaxing Gibbous
ILLUMINATION92%
ALTITUDE35.3°
DISTANCE380,183 km
Moonrise16:00
Moonset04:43
HorizonAbove
LUNAR INTERFERENCE INDEX53% · Moderate Lunar Glow
ATMOSPHERIC SEEING & CLOUD PROFILETonight's Index
73/100
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 | -32.5° | 280° | Libra | 07:24 | 12:08 | 16:44 | Naked Eye |
| Jupiter♃ | Below Horizon | -2.0 | -26.7° | 0° | Leo | 00:51 | 08:04 | 15:14 | Naked Eye |
| Saturn♄ | Visible Low | 0.3 | 29.7° | 127° | Pisces | 16:51 | 22:59 | 05:08 | Naked Eye |
| Mars♂ | Below Horizon | 1.0 | -22.8° | 9° | Cancer | 23:59 | 07:28 | 14:58 | Naked Eye |
| Mercury☿ | Below Horizon | 0.4 | -20.5° | 262° | Libra | 09:10 | 13:31 | 17:52 | Binoculars |
| Uranus♅ | Visible Low | 5.6 | 11.2° | 71° | Taurus | 18:46 | 02:31 | 10:20 | Binoculars |
| Neptune♆ | Optimal Visibility | 7.8 | 31.9° | 135° | Pisces | 16:29 | 22:30 | 04:30 | Telescope |
The MoonNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:00
BEST TIME22:14S · 43° high
SETS04:43
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Waxing Gibbous (92% illuminated). Moderate Lunar Glow.
JupiterNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES00:51
BEST TIME08:04S · 56° high
SETS15:14
Reaches about 56° above the horizon at its highest point.Bright golden disc; four Galilean moons easily seen in 7x50 binoculars.
SaturnNaked Eye · Good height
RISES16:51
BEST TIME22:59S · 43° high
SETS05:08
Reaches about 43° above the horizon at its highest point.Pale amber jewel; majestic ring system visible in any 60mm telescope.
VenusNaked Eye · Good height
RISES07:24
BEST TIME12:08S · 24° high
SETS16:44
Reaches about 24° above the horizon at its highest point.Brilliant dazzling beacon; visible crescent phase in small telescope.
MarsNaked Eye · High in the sky
RISES23:59
BEST TIME07:28S · 59° high
SETS14:58
Reaches about 59° 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.
