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Interactive Observing Tools


Almanac
When does the Sun set, and when does twilight end? Which planets are visible? What time does the Moon rise, and what's its phase? SkyandTelescope.com's interactive almanac answers these and many other questions for every night of the year.

International Space Station
The International Space Station often passes close to the Moon, Sun, and naked-eye planets. Use this tool to plan viewing these close encounters.

International Space Station
The International Space Station passes over virtually all of Earth's populated areas, and you can spot it easily with your eyes alone — if you know where and when to look for it.

This interactive tool is designed to give you answers to your commonly asked questions about your telescope's performance when changing eyepieces and accessories.

Now you can calculate the dates and times (local and Universal Times) when the eclipsing variable star Algol should be at its dimmest (magnitude 3.4 instead of its usual 2.1).

Learn the phase of the Moon tonight, the day you were born, or on any historical date.

Jupiter as seen by the Cassini Spacecraft
Now you can calculate the dates and times (local and Universal Times) when the center of the Great Red Spot should cross Jupiter's central meridian, the imaginary line down the center of the planet's disk from pole to pole.

Moons of Jupiter
With help from our interactive JavaScript utility, you can always tell which of Jupiter's four largest satellites is which.

Saturn With and Without Moons
With help from our interactive JavaScript utility, you can always tell which of Saturn's brightest moons is which.

Our handy JavaScript utility can help users of moderate to large telescopes find as many as five Uranus's brightest satellites.

Our handy JavaScript utility can help users of moderate to large telescopes find Neptune's largest satellite.

Three Faces of Mars
To compare what you see on Mars with a map, you need to know which side of the planet you're looking at. Our handy Mars Profiler tells you that and more, for any date and time.



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